Nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation necessary for int'l peace: UNOG

GENEVA - 31 January 2018: Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) Ambassador Alaa Youssef asserted that nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons are necessary for the enhancement of international peace and security.

In his statement at UNOG annual talks on disarmament, Ambassador Youssef reiterated Egypt's firm stance regarding the establishment of an area free from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in the Middle East region in accordance with the 1995 conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He called on the decision-making countries to shoulder their responsibilities towards putting into effect the stipulations of NPT. He also renewed Egypt's call for including all nuclear facilities in the Middle East region under the comprehensive safeguards agreement of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He noted that Israel is the only country which runs nuclear facilities that are not subject to the comprehensive safeguards agreement of IAEA.

Ambassador Youssef also said the disarmament issue is a top priority for Egypt which is also attaching great importance to talks on the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

He called for working out a legal formula that offers guarantees for the non-nuclear countries against the use or threats of the use of nuclear weapons by any party or under any circumstances.