Address of the League of Arab States to the2010 Review Conference of the Parties to theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Delivered byAmbassador Wael Al AssadDirector of the Multilateral Relations

To be Revised upon Reading

New York 3 - 28 / 5 /2010

Address of the League of Arab States to the2010 Review Conference

Mr. Chairman,
On behalf of the League of Arab States, allow me to joinranks with those who preceded me in expressing mycongratulations for electing you the Chairperson of the2010 Review Conference of the Non-proliferation
Treaty. I am honored as well to have this opportunity toaddress the Conference on a set of central issues placedon the Conference's agenda.
Mr. Chairman,
The Conference is convening amidst an atmosphere thatis significantly different than that which prevailed during
the 2005 Conference. Several positive developments that
occurred during 2009 have helped foster dialogue among
all Parties on a set of important issues on our agenda. No
doubt, the call for globally eliminating nuclear weapons,
the conclusion of the American-Russian agreement on
the reduction of strategic arms and convening theNuclear Security Summit last month, are first steps on
the right path. They indicate the possibility of achieving
real success in this conference after so many years ofstagnation of multilateral diplomacy. However, in spiteof these positive signs, we need to realize that most of
the controversial issues which exacerbated in the last
decade remain unresolved.
While we welcome the call for a world free of nuclear
weapons, we need to acknowledge that the current
developments are still unfolding, and sometimes are

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limited to statements or trends that have not yetmaterialized. The real test of these trends is thisConference. Addressing the issue of nuclear disarmament
as a long-term objective, therefore sufficing with limited
action for the time being, while non-nuclear states are
asked to immediately commit to new obligations, will bedifficult to uphold as parallel progress on disarmamentand non-proliferation.

Mr. Chairman,
The Member States of the League of Arab States haverepeatedly reiterated their position vis-a-vis the issues on
the agenda of the present conference. They outlined these
positions during the meetings of the preparatorycommittees and were transparently declared in the last
Arab Summit in Sert, Libya, last March. Allow me here
to briefly highlight some of these positions:First: The League of Arab States welcomes all initiatives
calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide, in implementation of Article 6 of the NPT. We callupon the present conference to translate such initiatives
into practical plans with a timeframe to guarantee theunconditional disarmament of nuclear weapons. As afirst step towards this objective we call on thisconference to issue a decision banning the developmentand production of new nuclear weapons, as well asbanning the use of, or the threat to use, nuclear weapons
against non-nuclear states.
Second: The Arab States fully support the NPT andbelieve that strengthening the credibility of the treaty
requires that the commitments pledged in past Review
Conferences be fulfilled first before seeking newcommitments on non-nuclear states party to the Treaty.

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Third: The universality of the NPT should not be viewed
as a long term objective for which we only reiterate oursupport. It has become an urgent priority, andaccordingly, the 2010 Review Conference needs toconsider applicable measures to urge the countries whichhave not joined the NPT yet to accede to the Treaty. This
is to be achieved by attaching high political andeconomic costs to the refusal to adhere to the Treaty, thus
prompting reluctant countries to reconsider theirpositions. The technological assistance and cooperation
taking place currently with these countries counters any
claims of support to the universality of the NPT.
Fourth: The Arab States stress the need for preserving
the inherent right of the States Party to the Treaty todevelop, possess and use nuclear technology for peacefulpurposes, and oppose any restraints imposed on suchrights on any grounds.
Fifth: The Arab States reiterate that the Comprehensive
IAEA Safeguards Agreement represents the legal
commitment within the scope of the Treaty. We stressthe optional nature of the Additional Protocol and do notagree to rendering it a mandatory instrument that
becomes the standard upon which NPT parties receive
nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Sixth: More importantly for the Arab States on a regional
level is the implementation of the 1995 Middle EastResolution. 15 years, have elapsed since the adoption ofthat resolution which was a central component of the deal
to indefinitely extend the NPT. Moreover, the 2000
Review Conference welcomed the adherence of all ArabStates to the Treaty and called upon Israel, the only Statein the region that has not yet joined, to speedily adhere to-4-

the Treaty and put all its nuclear installations under theComprehensive IAEA Safeguards.
The Arab States have repeatedly expressed their regret
and concern over the failure to move one step towards
implementing the Resolution. Given these facts, we urge,
call upon and expect the Review Conference to adopt
practical measures and effective mechanisms toimplement the Middle East Resolution. Fifteen years ofstagnation and implementation have lapsed, and we canno longer tolerate statements that highlight thesignificance of the Resolution while postponing its
implementation under any pretext.
The Arab States have repeatedly rejected the attempts ofson1e countries to postpone the implementation of theDecision by linking it to the realization of peace in theregion and the settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict.
This is the logic which deeply inculcates the idea that
nuclear weapons helps achieve Israel's security. This is adangerous proposition, because if nuclear weapons
achieves Israel's security, it will provide security to othercountries as well. Such pretext, also, entails that theadherence of countries in the region to otherdisarmament-related treaties or agreements would bepostponed until peace is realized.
We wish to remind those propagating this linkage that all
Arab States adhered to the NPT during the Arab-Israeli
conflict, and did not use it as a pretext to postpone
joining the treaty. The Arab States reiterate that Israel's
adherence to the Treaty and putting its nuclear
installations under the Comprehensive Safeguards system-5-

is the starting point towards creating a Zone free ofnuclear and other WMD in the Middle East.
Furthermore, it is an important confidence and security
building measure to realize regional security and prevent
an arms race that we need to spare ourselves. The ArabStates envisage the implementation of this Resolution anoverriding priority which should not be subjected tobargaining and compromise not to be compromise.

Mr. Chairman
These positions, in addition to others, are further
elaborated in the working papers submitted by the States
Member to the League of Arab states, and we hope thatthey would draw the interest of the Parties concernedwith the support of the NPT.
We firmly believe that there is an honest desire tostrengthen the non-proliferation system. And I need toreiterate that the 20 1a Review Conference constitutes animportant opportunity for strengthening the NPT amidst
an atmosphere that fosters progress in all disarmament
fields. This opportunity may not come again for many
decades to come, thus, it is imperative that we all workand reach and understanding of the issues of concern for
all the States Party to the NPT. We also need to develop
the parameters for the implementation of the outcomes ofprevious Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 and2000 Conferences and restore balance to the process ofaddressing the three central pillars upon which the Treaty
rests.

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To conclude, I would like to thank you for providing thisopportunity for regional organizations to address thissignificant conference due to the impact of yourdeliberations on regional security and peace. We lookforward to a fruitful and productive dialogue during ourmeeting.
Thank You for your attention-7- .