The State of Qatar stressed the importance of adhering to all agreements and treaties on disarmament of nuclear and mass destruction weapons to reach the goal of freeing the world from threats to humanity, expressing aspiration for all countries to join those agreements to achieve peace and security and preserve future generations and environmental systems from the danger of the spread of such weapons.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar made by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani before the 76th session of the UN General Assembly First Committee (the Disarmament and International Security Committee), which began its discussion on all agenda items relating to disarmament and international security.
The statement of the State of Qatar stated that reducing the spread of weapons directly contributes to directing resources towards combating the COVID-19 spread, relief efforts and sustainable development in local communities. The statement reiterated the call of the State of Qatar to respond urgently to the call of the UN Secretary-General for a cease-fire around the world and provide an opportunity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement added that the failure to free the Middle East region of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction remains a matter of concern to all countries in the region, and expressed Qatar’s concern about the lack of progress in this regard, in addition to the failure to implement the commitments arising from the outcomes of the 1995 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference and the steps of the 2000 Review Conference and the 2010 Action Plan, as well as the failure of the 2015 Review Conference of NPT.
In this context, the statement renewed the State of Qatar’s support for holding the second session of the UN Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the last quarter of 2021, expressing the State of Qatar’s aspiration for the cooperation of all countries of the region to achieve this goal in the service of their peoples to enhances international peace and security.
As part of the efforts of the State of Qatar and its contribution to achieving international peace and security, the statement drew attention to the State of Qatar’s keenness to join international agreements and treaties in the field of disarmament and to participate effectively in the activities and meetings of UN organizations working in the field of disarmament. The statement indicated that the State of Qatar deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on Nuclear Safety at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on December 14, 2020, which confirms the State of Qatar’s commitment to nuclear safety and security standards.
In conclusion, the statement reiterated the State of Qatar’s full commitment to fulfilling its pledges as a party to international instruments in the field of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation to achieve regional and international peace and security.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs