Kuwait holds firm to proliferation stance
NEW YORK, Aug 4, (KUNA): Kuwait reiterated its unwavering position on preservation of international security and peace and nuclear non-proliferation only out of its outright commitment to respecting international conventions.
This came in a speech delivered by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the UN Tareq Al-Banai during the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
He said the world is agreed that the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the keystone of the non-proliferation system, calling for ensuring the credibility of the NPT, especially amid the ongoing developments.
While marking the 50th anniversary of the NPT, it is the responsibility of all parties to work hard to maintain this treaty.
He added that there is an opportunity for this conference to make genuine headway should the countries, especially nuclear ones, honor their vow to adopt a relevant ambitious plan with specific goals.
The Kuwaiti diplomat pointed out the swift and serious developments experienced by the world over the last period, with some nuclear countries announcing continuation and upgrading of their nuclear arsenals and insistence on the nuclear deterrence policy.
Al-Banai went on saying that these developments, no buts, necessitate clear-cut and unequivocal mechanisms within the framework of the NPT.
However, he voiced hope that Kuwaiti and Gulf concerns about this agreement would be taken into account, calling for following up on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2231 regarding verification and monitoring in Iran.
Al-Banai called on the parties to the Iranian nuclear agreement to return to the negotiating table with a view to arriving at an agreement that could ensure that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.
Kuwait’s new permanent representative at the UN strongly condemned any nuclear tests that could undermine human safety or any provocation or behavior that might jeopardize international security and peace.
He noted that the State of Kuwait had contributed to Arab efforts to press for freeing the Middle East of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, based on a resolution adopted during the 2010 review conference.
He added that the conference had asked the then UN secretary general and the three countries that adopted the resolution to hold a conference on a nuclear-free region.
However, he regretted, the conference was not held due to the absence of the political will and earnestness on the part of all concerned parties.
He underlined that all parties have the right to develop research and studies, and possess and use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, but legal commitments and agreements concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be observed.
In this context, he hailed the IAEA’s role and technical cooperation programs that contribute to building the national capabilities of developing countries and ensuring peaceful nuclear technology.
Proceeding from this fact, the State of Kuwait has always attached special attention to technical cooperation activities, and has backed the IAEA’s initiatives for peaceful nuclear usage and laboratory revamp.
The Kuwaiti diplomat concluded by hoping that the review conference would promote conviction that open, constructive and fruitful dialogue should continue to ensure sustainable peace, security and stability, boost confidence and curtail nuclear proliferation hazards.
Kuwait’s new Ambassador to the Russian Federation Mansour Al-Otaibi tendered a copy of his credentials to Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa Mikhail Bogdanov on Thursday.
Bogdanov, who is also Deputy Foreign Minister, received the credentials during his meeting with Ambassador Al-Otaibi where they discussed the special relationship between their two countries and explored ways to cement cooperation in various areas.
They expressed a shared desire to enhance the political dialogue on international issues of common concern and issues related to MENA region, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry of Russia.
Kuwait on Wednesday welcomed an agreement between Yemen’s warring parties to extend a United Nations (UN) -brokered truce for another two months.
The efforts of UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg were instrumental in keeping the truce intact, said a foreign ministry statement, hoping the step would lead to a definitive political solution to the conflict.