October 21, 2009
Hotel Okura
H.R.H. Prince Turki Al-Faisal,Chairman, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies“Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament”

My purpose in visiting Japan this time was to attend the 4th Meeting of the International
Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament in Hiroshima (October 18-20).
Convened at the initiative of Japan and Australia, the meeting was an extremely valuable
opportunity to engage in discussions on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament withinterested parties and experts.
As you know, the Middle East has been a scene of conflict for many years.

Nuclearnon-proliferation and disarmament have become extraordinarily important issues for thoseof us living in the Middle East.

The Arab countries have long considered thedenuclearization of the Middle East to be a primary objective and have regularly called for
efforts toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons; indeed, this year’s Doha meeting ofthe Arab League urged support for a Middle East denuclearization initiative.

I havefrequently spoken about this approach since my time as Ambassador to the UK (2002-2005)
and explained the need for providing technical and financial support as well as security
guarantees to countries participating in this initiative.

Delineating between participationand non-participation in this initiative to denuclearize the Middle East, I have also talked of
the need to employ military force under the UN Charter against non-participating countries
and countries seeking to manufacture or acquire weapons of mass destruction.
The reaction of many people to the views I expressed while Ambassador to the UK was that
Israel was unlikely to accept this initiative.

If the international community, e.g., thepermanent members of the UN Security Council, were to issue a proclamation supporting
the Middle East denuclearization initiative, however, this would provide an impetus itsrealization.

The negotiations involved in implementing this initiative would also likely create

an opening for resolving various issues between the Arab states and Israel.

Furthermore, itwould be necessary for Iran, too, to be on board in realizing this Middle East
denuclearization initiative.

Of course, this initiative will not be realized simply by calling onstates to join in, but it could undoubtedly be viewed as a future option for the countries of theMiddle East.
The other day I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and my conviction was
reaffirmed that freedom from the fear of nuclear weapons is essential for humanity.

TheMiddle East in which we live is subject to frequent conflicts and is more exposed than otherregions to the threat of potential nuclear weapons development. I presented a proposal on
the Middle East denuclearization initiative at the Hiroshima Conference, which met with thesame response as my earlier recommendations in the UK: Israel would not likely accept theproposal and the US would in all probability exercise its veto power.

I pointed out to theConference members that President Obama himself has clearly called for a world without
nuclear weapons and that the Middle East denuclearization initiative had become a topic ofdiscussion for both the UN Security Council and the IAEA. I believe that this initiative isfeasible and that an accord on the same among the international community is possible.
As one of the countries of the Arab League and as a member of the international community,
Saudi Arabia remains committed to this idea.
In Beirut in 2002, King Abdullah (then Crown Prince) of Saudi Arabia offered a Middle East
peace initiative under which Israel would exchange “land for peace.”

This proposal sought

Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories and recognition of and normalization ofrelations with Israel by the Arab states, and was a straightforward and noteworthy planoffering a resolution to the refugee issue agreeable to both sides. The 22 countries of theArab League expressed approval of the Crown Prince’s initiative but, upon its
announcement in 2002, the Israelis declared it to be the most dangerous proposal yet.
There have still not been any calls for peace from Israel, which continues to construct new
settlements and maintain its occupation.

No serious response to the initiative wasforthcoming from the international community either, in particular the US and other majorpowers, but Japan did offer its support early on.
action and not merely words.

I think that realization will require real

The US is a principal actor in the Middle East peace process.

The US also wields influence on Israel and thus can urge the Israeli people to seek peace.
The Arab states, too, have accepted US leadership in the process, and we long to see
Obama’s campaign slogan of “Yes, we can” be translated into action, even on those thorny
issues that appear beyond resolution.