Tariq Rauf, a regional organization for a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East
Channel: Middle East Treaty Organization (METO)
Date: 28/10/2021

Tariq Rauf is former Head of Verification and Security Policy Coordination, Office reporting to the Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (2002-2011), responsible for nuclear safeguards and security, the Director General’s annual report on the Application of Safeguards in the Middle East and for the IAEA Forum on the Experience of NWFZs relevant for the Middle East. Prior to and after joining the IAEA, together with Ambassador (ret’d) George Bunn, US negotiator of the NPT, he prepared the early drafts of the Central Asian NWFZ Treaty, and assisted Mongolia in formulating its nuclear-weapon-free status legislation and UN recognition. Personal comments presented for purposes of discussion.
Tariq spoke about the background to the zone project and what to expect at the upcoming November Conference on the zone, and also his views on the relationship between the NPT Review Process and the drive to achieve a Middle East WMD free zone.