New York: The State of Kuwait is determined to establish a Middle East free from nuclear arsenals and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), as expressed by a Kuwaiti diplomat during a United Nations meeting late Monday. This statement was delivered by Abdulaziz Al-Seidi from Kuwait's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, during the preparatory committee for the parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait's position is rooted in the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the NPT, which serves as a fundamental document for legal and ethical stances on the issue. This document is also binding for nuclear powers and the three depositary countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Al-Seidi emphasized that the treaty's extended nature acts as a global safeguard, urging all parties to implement it and work towards disarming nuclear weapons and WMDs.
The Kuwaiti diplomat praised the growing momentum of the NPT, which reflects the United Nations General Assembly decision 73/546 on establishing a Middle East Zone free from nuclear and other WMDs. Kuwait has chaired the second session of this Middle East conference, along with Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco, which chaired previous sessions.
Al-Seidi reiterated Kuwait's clear stance on denuclearization, urging the NPT depositary countries to enforce the treaty in the Middle East and avoid selective policies that permit some nations to possess such destructive weapons. He highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the Israeli occupation, particularly towards Palestinians, stressing that this behavior should not go unchecked.
The Kuwaiti diplomat pointed out that allowing the Israeli occupation to threaten the Middle East undermines efforts for non-proliferation and fosters a sense of injustice and favoritism in international disarmament efforts. He urged the international community to fulfill its responsibility by compelling the Israeli occupation to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its nuclear facilities.