Statement of the Egyptian Council
for Foreign Affairs (ECFA)
Mr Chairman,
I am making this presentation also on behalf of Dr Fawzi Hammad,
member of ECFA and former Chairman of Egypt’s Atomic Energy
Authority. At the Council, we have recently established a permanent
working group on nuclear issues and the establishment of a zone
free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. Dr Hammad
is the leader of this group.
It is good to be here again in the same hall where the 1985 NPT
Review Conference concluded successfully its review of the Treaty.
Many present here today contributed to this success, prominent among
them are: Dhanapala, Ben Sanders and Senator Roche.
We come from a troubled area that has witnessed a recent devastating
war and a protracted conflict that has yet to be resolved by peaceful
means with a view of establishing a just and lasting peace in the
Middle East.
The 1995 NPT Extension and Review Conference is the only conference
of its kind in the history of the NPT so far. It is the unique conference,
which had the power to make 3 decisions and adopt a resolution on
the Middle East. They were issued to be implemented. Only two decisions
were implemented so far, the indefinite Extension of the NPT and
Strengthening the Review Process Decision.
It is essential to emphasize the importance of implementing the
integrated package of the decisions and the Resolution on the Middle
East (RME) within a reasonable time frame. It is also important
to emphasize the necessity of devising a mechanism for implementing
the results of the review process so as to make it meaningful and
workable.
The 1995 package gave great attention to the situation in the Middle
East; this is reflected in the following:
1. It considered the Middle East as a region of tension; accordingly
it decided (paragraph 6 of Decision 2) that the establishment of
a MENWFZ is a matter of priority.
2. Further, it adopted the resolution on the Middle East (RME) which
calls upon all states in the Middle East to take practical steps
in appropriate for aimed at making progress towards, interalia,
the establishment of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone
free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological
and their delivery systems and to refrain from any measures that
preclude the achievement of that
objective.
3. The Resolution on the Middle East also reaffirms the early realization
of universal adherence to the NPT and calls upon all states in the
Middle East that have not yet done so, without exception, to accede
to the Treaty as soon as possible and to place their nuclear facilities
under full scope IAEA safeguards.
The 2000 NPT review conference reaffirmed the importance of the
RME and recognized the resolution to be valid until its objectives
are achieved. The conference also reaffirmed the importance of Israel’s
accession to the NPT and placement of all of its nuclear facilities
under comprehensive IAEA safeguards, realizing the goal of universal
adherence to the NPT in the Middle East.
We believe that the 2005 conference should follow suit and should
emphasize a time frame within which zone is established. In view
of the challenges facing the NPT, several voices are being raised
in a number of Arab countries, why should we continue to be parties
to the NPT while all these decisions and resolutions are not implemented?
This situation would be aggravated if implementation were further
delayed.
It is important to note that UN Security Council Resolution 687
states is paragraph 14 that the elimination of WMDs from Iraq aimed
at establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the
Middle East.
It is also important to note that the enhanced inspection regime
implemented recently in Iraq under SCR 1441 has been followed closely
by the whole world. It is timely that the UN monitoring system (UNMOVIC/IAEA)
should resume its activities in Iraq. Verification requires neutrality,
experience and universality. It should be acceptable to the world
at large.
The delay or the inattention to establish the Zone has led to serious
consequences in the Middle East entailing destruction of human life
and property in Palestine by the illegal war on Iraq. Further, many
peace opportunities in the Middle East such as the Oslo Process,
were missed. It is essential to realize that early attention to
establishing the zone will be a great asset to the peaceful future
of the Middle East.
In this respect, the Arab Summit, which was held two years ago in
Beirut, offered Israel immediate recognition if it were to recognize
an independent Palestinian State according to the relevant UN Resolutions
including those relating to the establishment of MEZFWMD.
Finally, we commend the work done by the League of Arab States in
drafting a text of a Treaty banning weapons of mass destruction
in the Middle East. When circumstances and conditions permit, and
we hope this will be soon, other States in the region would be able
to join and finalize the conclusion of such an important instrument
for peace and stability not only in the region, but in the world
at large.
