Qatar has reiterated the importance of activating and implementing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and turn the Middle East into a nuclear weapons-free zone. “In light of the Fukushima disaster, and the long-term serious consequences caused, we stress again the importance of activating and implementing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and turn the Middle East into a zone free of nuclear weapons,” Qatar’s Director of International Organisations and Conferences Yousef bin Khalifa al-Sada said while addressing the high-level meeting of the 66th session of the UN General Assembly on nuclear safety and security. “Yet, knowing that this aim remains elusive in light of Israel’s continued building of nuclear weapons and construction of other reactors and the pursuit of other countries in the region to have nuclear energy, our main concern is the need for the international community to think of a formula to avert environmental disaster, as the one that occurred in Japan or in Chernobyl,” al-Sada said. Al-Sada highlighted that Qatar is located in an area known for the presence of some countries that have nuclear reactors or others in the process of constructing them, whether for peaceful purposes or for purposes of acquiring nuclear weapons, noting that Qatar has always been among the countries that emphasise the inviolability of the inalienable rights of states to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and that no obstacles be put in front of non-nuclear states in their quest to develop nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes. He underlined that nuclear safety standards issued by the International Atomic Energy should be reviewed and strengthened to make sure they are implemented at the international level. Gulf Times

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