Ambassador Khaddour: Israel’s refusal to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty threatens the stability of the region

Vienna (ST): Ambassador Dr. Hassan Khaddour, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Vienna, affirmed that security and stability will remain threatened with the Israeli occupation entity remaining outside the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, denouncing the insistence of some member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency to politicize its meetings. 

In his speech during a meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in its session for the month of November 2022 in Vienna, Ambassador Khaddour said: “Israel’s refusal to join  the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the Agency, and its military nuclear capabilities, and its rejection of all initiatives calling to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, security and stability in the Middle East will remain threatened.

He added: The aggression launched by Israel in September 2007 on an area in Deir Ezzour was used as a platform to attack Syria, distort its image, and exert pressure on it instead of being condemned for being a flagrant violation of international law, stressing that unless the Israeli enemy cooperates with the agency any discussion of this topic will remain in vain.

The Syrian diplomat clarified that all reports regarding the site that was destroyed during that aggression – including the Agency’s reports – are speculative and not based on concrete evidence, adding that whoever talks about peace and stability must first  condemn the Israeli aggression, not direct accusations against Syria, and not turn a blind eye to Israel’s violation of international law.”

Ambassador Khaddour denounced the insistence of some member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to politicize its meetings, warning the Council against allowing this and deviating from its technical competence.

Ambassador Khaddour added: “It is the Zionist entity that attacks the sovereignty of other countries, supports terrorism and protects terrorists, and this entity is the main cause of instability in our region.”

Regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement, Ambassador Khaddour stressed that the withdrawal of the United States of America from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action unilaterally and without justifications is the main reason for what is happening at the present time and that the implementation of the plan does not depend on Iran only, but is offset by the fulfillment by all parties of their obligations, in particular raising the sanctions imposed on Iran.

K.Q.