Morocco calls for a nuclear weapons free Mideast

Morocco called Monday for making of the Middle-East a region free of nuclear weapons.

The call was made by Moroccan ambassador in Vienna, Abderrahim Benmoussa, before the 43rd general assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

While the Arab states ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Israel persists in its refusal to abide by the treaty and to meet the security guarantees requested by the IAEA, the ambassador said, adding that such a position jeopardizes peace in the region.

Morocco has since the beginning joined the international efforts to totally eliminate nuclear weapons in all the regions of the world, mainly through the ratification of the relevant treaty, he said.

Benmoussa also deplored the downsizing of the IAEA budget on technical cooperation in matters of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The Moroccan delegation to the assembly distributed to participants documents related to Morocco's experience in matters of nuclear activities.