IAEA adopts Egyptian draft on application of nuclear safeguards in Mideast

The 57th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted on Friday a draft resolution, tabled by Egypt, on the application of the nuclear safeguards in the Middle East region. The 13-article draft was backed by 114 countries with 12 abstentions and no opposition. It calls on the countries which have yet to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to do so without day. It urges all countries of the region to meet their international obligations relating to the implementation of the nuclear safeguards with good will, and work with the UN nuclear watchdog to free the region of the nuclear weapons in a verifiable way. It highlights the crucial importance of nuclear non-proliferation for protecting peace and security on the regional and global scales. It also underlines the importance of the nuclear safeguards in verifying the peaceful use of nuclear energy while voicing concern about possible military nuclear activities in the region. Warning against the grave consequences of the existence of nuclear activities in the region which are not purely civilian, the resolution urges all countries of the region to subject their nuclear facilities to the IAEA inspection and adopt the necessary measures for promote mutual trust in order to enhance peace and security in the region. The resolution calls on the international community to provide the necessary technical assistances for the countries of the region to achieve the ultimate goal of declaring the Middle East and nuclear weapon-free region