UAE reiterates commitment to ensuring global security, highest standards of safety, security, non-proliferation

Geneva, April 24, 2013 (WAM) - : The UAE has always been and will always be committed to ensuring global security. This was demonstrated by the UAE's decision to join the NPT in 1995, Faris Mohammad Al Mazrouei, Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs said before the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), being held between 22nd April-3rd May 2013. Al Mazrouei is leading a high-level UAE delegation to the meetings including Obaid Salim Al Za'abi, Ambassador of the UAE to the United Nations in Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland, Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, the representative of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Rashid Al Shamsi, First Secretary at the UAE's mission in Geneva. "Following this was the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 2000 and the conclusion of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement in 2003 and bringing in force the Additional Protocol UAE has adopted a detailed policy on the development of a peaceful nuclear energy programme in 2008, endorsed important principles of complete transparency, the commitment to the highest standards of safety, security, non-proliferation and full cooperation with the IAEA as fundamental principles by which all nuclear activities and programmes should be governed," the UAE senior official said. In this context, he said the UAE had condemned North Korea's third nuclear test, as a provocative move which threatens the non-proliferation regime. "2010 NPT review conference was a positive one in the sense that we all agreed to the way forward on how to maintain and strengthen the implementation of the treaty. The NPT framework is crucial and fundamental part of not only the non-proliferation regime but general global security and hence we all should spare no efforts in ensuring the full implementation and universalisation of the treaty," he added. "However, there are some serious challenges to the NPT regime today. Generally, these are the lack of concrete steps toward disarmament; the existence of states outside the treaty; issues of noncompliance; and continued nuclear proliferation threats," he added. These challenges, Al Mazrouei said, call for measures to strengthen the treaty and hence the PrepCom and review process should focus on these challenges. On the non-proliferation front, the NPT regime and the IAEA safeguards system continue to be challenged. We support the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a right of every state party to the treaty. Yet this right comes with substantial responsibilities." "In order to provide the needed confidence and mutual trust of in the exclusive peaceful nature of nuclear programmes, states that are developing nuclear energy for peaceful uses should fully Adhere to comprehensive safeguards measures; Fully cooperate with the IAEA; Take required steps to fully address all international concerns and obligations including those of relevant IAEA and UNSC resolutions. "Furthermore, Implementation of the Additional Protocol will facilitate the full support and confidence of the international community and important to maintain the credibility of IAEA safeguards system. The IAEA has a central and crucial role to play in assisting countries to develop nuclear energy in a safe and secure manner. Hence the IAEA role and mandate should be strengthened in this area. "The IAEA role in the area of multilateral solutions in the area of nuclear energy is an important role. The UAE highly values the establishment of the IAEA fuel bank, and encourages further steps to establish multilateral mechanisms to ensure provisions of fuel supply and services including the front end and the back end of the fuel cycle." When it comes to verification, my delegation would like to emphasise the importance of the CTBT's entry into force. The CTBT is an important tool for building mutual trust and confidence, which is needed to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons. UAE is actively promoting its entry-into-force and 5 implementation of the CTBT at the national, regional and global levels through our diplomatic efforts. The UAE has condemned the recent nuclear tests by the DPRK as another provocative step that endangers the NPT regime. The nuclear tests highlight the importance of the CTBT and call for a swift response and diplomatic efforts to bring in force the CTBT. The NPT has recognised the relationship between nuclear non- proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Implementing measures agreed upon in the area of disarmament will strengthen non- proliferation efforts and the NPT framework in general. "Moreover, the UAE shares the view that the only way to ensure the non-use or non-threat to use nuclear weapons is the total elimination of those weapons. UAE supports the international efforts in addressing the humanitarian aspects of using nuclear weapons with an objective, 6 in the long run, to ban the use, threat and eventually owning these weapons." "The establishment the nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East is a long due and important step for the NPT regime." He said the UAE deeply regrets that 2012 conference on the establishment of such a zone did not take place, and call on the Convenors to take up 'their responsibilities in holding the conference soon and without further delay. "Successful progress on the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the Middle East will demonstrate the effectiveness of the treaty to achieve its objectives," he added. "The UAE continues to take further tangible steps to support the implementation of the action plan adopted in 2010 NPT. review conference. The NPT review process comes with a lot of challenges, but given the importance of the NPT framework in ensuring global peace and security , the UAE hopes that all delegations will work together constructively to achieve a positive progress," Al Mazrouei concluded. - Emirates News Agency, WAM