Qatar Concerned Over Indiscriminate Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

New York, October 20 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has expressed concern over the indiscriminate proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the serious consequences that can bring to the region, stressing at the same the importance of convening the 2012 conference for the setting up a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East as soon as possible and fixing a new date for the Conference. Qatar also reaffirmed its position on the right of States parties to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, but considered that the delay in convening the Conference 2012, would add to the uncertainties and concerns of countries in the region due to the absence of a glimmer of hope for setting up a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which would have negative impact on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. This came in a statement by the Qatari delegation delivered by first lieutenant Ali Rashid Al-Mohannadi, member of the delegation of the State of Qatar to 69th of the United Nations General Assembly, the first Committee of the Assembly in its discussion of the item on nuclear weapons. Al Mohannadi stated that the Qatari delegation expresses its concern over the stalemate of the Conference on Disarmament since 1996 for lack of a Conference agenda, and lack of progress in the deliberations of the Disarmament Commission since 1996, as well as the lack of any tangible progress in nuclear disarmament since the first session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, held in 1978. Al Mohanadi pointed out that despite the efforts made by the Arab States and other international parties for holding the Conference on the establishment of a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in 2012, but the Conference did not take place because of lack of consent of the main concerned party. The State of Qatar had enacted laws designed to prevent and control the proliferation of nuclear arms , where it had established a National Committee on Arms Embargo , in addition to its involvement in a project with the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to formulate a comprehensive law regulating nuclear and radiological activities in the State of Qatar, he added. He noted that the State has a monitoring device to monitor all border entry points with a view to ensuring the safety of the country and prevent any violation of Security Council resolution 1540 of the year 2004.(END)