Mr. Chairman,

On behalf of the League of Arab States, allow me to join ranks with those who preceded me in expressing my congratulations for electing you the Chairperson of the 2010 Review Conference of the Non-proliferation Treaty. I am honored as well to have this opportunity to address the Conference on a set of central issues placed on the Conference's agenda.

Mr. Chairman,

The Conference is convening amidst an atmosphere that is 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 the Nuclear 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 of stagnation of multilateral diplomacy. However, in spite of 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 limited to statements or trends that have not yet materialized. The real test of these trends is this Conference. 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 be difficult to uphold as parallel progress on disarmament and non-proliferation.

Mr. Chairman,

The Member States of the League of Arab States have repeatedly reiterated their position vis-a-vis the issues on the agenda of the present conference. They outlined these positions during the meetings of the preparatory committees 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 call upon the present conference to translate such initiatives into practical plans with a timeframe to guarantee the unconditional disarmament of nuclear weapons. As a first step towards this objective we call on this conference to issue a decision banning the development and production of new nuclear weapons, as well as banning the use of, or the threat to use, nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.

Second: The Arab States fully support the NPT and believe that strengthening the credibility of the treaty requires that the commitments pledged in past Review Conferences be fulfilled first before seeking new commitments on non-nuclear states party to the Treaty.

Third: The universality of the NPT should not be viewed as a long term objective for which we only reiterate our support. It has become an urgent priority, and accordingly, the 2010 Review Conference needs to consider applicable measures to urge the countries which have not joined the NPT yet to accede to the Treaty. This is to be achieved by attaching high political and economic costs to the refusal to adhere to the Treaty, thus prompting reluctant countries to reconsider their positions. 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 to develop, possess and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and oppose any restraints imposed on such rights 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 stress the optional nature of the Additional Protocol and do not agree 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 East Resolution. 15 years, have elapsed since the adoption of that resolution which was a central component of the deal to indefinitely extend the NPT. Moreover, the 2000 Review Conference welcomed the adherence of all Arab States to the Treaty and called upon Israel, the only State in the region that has not yet joined, to speedily adhere to the Treaty and put all its nuclear installations under the Comprehensive 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 to implement the Middle East Resolution. Fifteen years of stagnation and implementation have lapsed, and we can no longer tolerate statements that highlight the significance of the Resolution while postponing its implementation under any pretext.

The Arab States have repeatedly rejected the attempts of son1e countries to postpone the implementation of the Decision by linking it to the realization of peace in the region 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 a dangerous proposition, because if nuclear weapons achieves Israel's security, it will provide security to other countries as well. Such pretext, also, entails that the adherence of countries in the region to other disarmament-related treaties or agreements would be postponed 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 is the starting point towards creating a Zone free of nuclear 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 Arab States envisage the implementation of this Resolution an overriding priority which should not be subjected to bargaining 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 that they would draw the interest of the Parties concerned with the support of the NPT.

We firmly believe that there is an honest desire to strengthen the non-proliferation system. And I need to reiterate that the 2010 Review Conference constitutes an important 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 work and 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 of previous Review Conferences, in particular the 1995 and 2000 Conferences and restore balance to the process of addressing the three central pillars upon which the Treaty rests.

To conclude, I would like to thank you for providing this opportunity for regional organizations to address this significant conference due to the impact of your deliberations on regional security and peace. We look forward to a fruitful and productive dialogue during our meeting.

Thank You for your attention