UNGA adopts two Egyptian draft resolutions on Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone

Ahram Online , Friday 29 Oct 2021

The United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA) First Committee adopted on Thursday two Egyptian draft resolutions related to making the Middle East a nuclear weapons-free zone, said Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Osama Abdel-Khalek.

A file photo of Egypt s Permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Osama Abdel Khaleq (Photo : Al-Ahram)

The two draft resolutions were approved by the majority of the members of the UNGA's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security issues.

The first calls on all countries in the Middle East that have not joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to do so and to subject their nuclear facilities to the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its comprehensive safeguard system, according to Ambassador Abdel-Khalek.

The second emphasizes the importance of implementing the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the NPT’s Resolution on the Middle East, presented by Egypt on behalf of the Arab countries.

The 1995 resolution calls upon all states to take practical steps towards the establishment of a Middle East zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.

Israel is one of three UN member states with active nuclear programs that have not joined the NPT. The other two countries are India and Pakistan.

Iran, despite signing the NPT, has in the past been found non-compliant with the IAEA safeguard system.