Al-Dahhak: Israel’s possession of weapons of mass destruction requires the establishment of Middle East Zone Free of these weapons

New York, (ST) – Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Qusay Al-Dahhak stressed that the aggressive behavior of the Israeli occupation entity, in addition to its possession of various types of weapons of mass destruction, most notably nuclear weapons, requires now more than ever to establish a zone free of these weapons in the Middle East.

In Syria’s statement before the 5th session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Al-Dahhak referred to the dangerous conditions witnessed by the region as a result of the acts of aggression launched by the occupation entity against the countries of the region.

He stressed the necessity of ending the aggression and holding the occupation authorities accountable for their crimes and ensuring that they do not escape punishment.

Ambassador Al-Dahhak clarified that efforts to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction cannot be fruitful unless they address the serious threat to regional and international peace and security posed by the entity’s arsenals of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

He referred that Israel’s aggressive behavior and its possession of various types of weapons of mass destruction, most notably nuclear weapons, requires more than ever intensive work to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

The Syrian delegate to the United Nations criticized the protection provided by some Western countries, primarily the United States, to the Israeli entity, as well as the material and technical support provided by those countries to develop the Israeli nuclear, biological and chemical military programs. He clarified that this protection has contributed to making the Israeli entity the only party in the Middle East region that possesses and develops weapons of mass destruction, and encouraged “Israel” to persist in refusing to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-possessor party and in subjecting its nuclear facilities to the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ambassador Al-Dahhak clarified that the only obstacle hindering the efforts of the conference to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East is the absence of the Israeli entity, supported by the United States, from participating in the conference’s work and in all the requirements for establishing this zone. He renewed Syria’s call on the International Atomic Energy Agency to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to uncover the Israeli nuclear program, and subject it to the comprehensive safeguards system and the systems of monitoring nuclear facilities and programs in the agency.

Ambassador Al-Dahhak pointed out that Syria was one of the first countries to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and it signed a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, signed the Biological Weapons Convention, joined the Chemical Weapons Convention and fulfilled all its relevant obligations within the framework of these international instruments, which confirms its practical and effective commitment to making the Middle East region free of all weapons of mass destruction.

Ambassador Al-Dahhak stressed that the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy and chemical and biological materials for the States Parties should be guaranteed, and the access to relevant technologies for peaceful purposes should be facilitated.

He stressed the illegitimacy of imposing unilateral coercive measures that hinder states from enjoying this right and constitute a collective punishment of peoples and an obstacle to achieving development.

Raghda Sawas