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Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones Bring Real Security Benefits

Broad international support exists for a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, although there are long-standing differences of opinion about it among the region's countries, the head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

The Agency opened a two-day forum today in Vienna to discuss how the experience gained through the established nuclear-weapon-free zones could be relevant to the Middle East, ahead of a conference to be held next year in Finland to advance the issue.

There are five existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, covering a total of 113 countries: Latin America and the Caribbean, the South Pacific, South-east Asia, Africa, and Central Asia. All nuclear-weapon-free zones prohibit the development, stationing or testing of nuclear weapons in their respective regions, and provide for IAEA verification of the non-diversion of nuclear material, according to IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano.

"They have brought real security benefits, both regionally and to the whole world. I have long been convinced that nuclear-weapon-free zones are a highly relevant and effective means of non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament." -IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano

He noted that in establishing and implementing nuclear-weapon-free zones, the countries concerned have learned the importance of dialogue. It is his hope, he added, that the meeting will help to promote dialogue on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.

"There is broad international support for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. But, among countries of the Middle East region and beyond, there are also long-standing differences of view related to the establishment of such a zone and the application of comprehensive Agency safeguards to all nuclear activities in the region." -IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano

Nuclear-weapon-free zones have also been established in certain uninhabited areas - Antarctica, outer space and the sea bed.

Source: United Nations