Stressing that the establishment of a zone free of nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is a collective responsibility at an international level, Saudi Arabia urged the international community, the United Nations and parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to fulfill their obligations towards the establishment of this zone.
This came during the kingdom's speech delivered by member of the kingdom's permanent delegation to the United Nations First Secretary Mohammed Al-Qahtani.
Qahtani said that the kingdom reaffirms that Israel's continued refusal to accede to the NPT and subject all its nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA comprehensive safeguards constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, as well as a violation of dozens of relevant UNSC resolutions.
The delegate also pointed out that the kingdom stresses the importance of a "comprehensive international agreement" on Iran's nuclear program to ensure that it is prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons in any way.
Qahtani welcomed the call by the UN Secretary General to hold the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction next November under the chairmanship of Jordan.
He urged all state parties invited to this conference to participate without any preconditions.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, affirmed the inherent right of all countries to peacefully use nuclear energy in accordance with the standards and procedures of the IAEA.
The Kingdom also urged industrialized countries to cooperate in removing obstacles to technology transfer to developing countries.
