NAM Calls on Israel to Renounce Possession of N. Weapons

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) expressed regret over Israel’s efforts to undermine the conference on the establishment of a nuclear-free Middle-East, and called on Tel Aviv to renounce possession of nuclear weapons.

In a statement on the 2012 conference on the establishment of a Middle-East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), the NAM said, “NAM State Parties to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) express their regret that Israel by not declaring its intention to participate in the Conference continues to undermine its convening.”

“In this regard, NAM demands on Israel, the only country in the region that has not joined the NPT nor declared its intention to do so, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, to accede to the NPT without preconditions and further delay,”

The full text of the statement is as follows:

New York, 29 November 2012

NAM State Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) express their profound disappointment regarding the statements issued by the Conveners of the 2012 Conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and all Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on not convening the conference in 2012 as scheduled, in accordance with the Conclusions and Recommendations for follow-on actions of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.

NAM State Parties to the NPT stress that the failure to convene the Conference before the end of this year contradicts and violates the collective agreement of the States Parties to the NPT as contained in the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East and section IV of the Conclusions and Recommendations for follow-on actions of the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference entitled “The Middle East, particularly implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East”.

NAM renews its full and longstanding support, as reflected in the Final Documents of its successive Summits and Ministerial Conferences, for the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

NAM State Parties to the NPT call for the full implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, which is an integral and essential part of the package of decisions reached without a vote that enabled the indefinite extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1995 and reaffirm that the 1995 resolution on the Middle East remains valid until its objectives are achieved.

NAM recalls the expression of deep concern by the NAM Heads of State or Government of States Parties to the NPT over the delay in the implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East and urges the three cosponsors of the Resolution to take all necessary measures to fully implement it without any further delay.

While appreciating the positive and constructive reactions from all NAM State Parties to the NPT in the Middle East towards the Conference, including the announcement of their intention to participate in the Conference, NAM notes with appreciation the efforts and positive and constructive engagement of all Arab countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran in preparing for the Conference.

NAM State Parties to the NPT express their regret that Israel by not declaring its intention to participate in the Conference continues to undermine its convening.

In this regard, NAM demands on Israel, the only country in the region that has not joined the NPT nor declared its intention to do so, to renounce possession of nuclear weapons, to accede to the NPT without preconditions and further delay, to place promptly all its nuclear facilities under IAEA full-scope safeguards according to Security Council resolution 487 (1981) and to conduct its nuclear related activities in conformity with the non-proliferation regime.

NAM State Parties to the NPT strongly reject the alleged impediments presented by the Conveners for not convening the Conference on schedule, and urges the UN Secretary General, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russian Federation, to convene the Conference in 2012 in accordance with the mandate entrusted to them by the Final Document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference in order to avoid any negative repercussions on the relevance and credibility of the NPT, its 2015 Review process and the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime as a whole.