Speakers at Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Conference Highly Praise Qatar for Well Organization

Doha, March 22 (QNA) - International and Arab officials and experts have highly hailed Qatar for hosting the "Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in Gulf States" conference, noting that the conference goes in line with Qatar's stances that aim to achieve regional and global security and stability. Colonel Hassan Al Nesf, Vice Chairman of Qatar National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons said Qatar's National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons was founded in 2003 and a Cabinet decision regarding it was issued in 2004. "This decision has referred all the disarmament agreements to the committee," Col. Hassan Al Nesf, Vice Chairman of Qatar National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons told Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines of the conference. Al Nesf said that GCC countries are part of the Arab group, and everyone has the same target of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction. He added that the conference isn't expected to take any decisions but will give recommendations that could be stated in international conferences. The Vice Chairman of Qatar National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons said that there are some difficulties and complications regarding the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. "Through this conference we discuss (these complications) to see how we can implement the treaty on a wider scale," Al Nesf said. "The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in Gulf states" conference started at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFSQ) here on Wednesday. A high profile figures as Brig. (Pilot) Gen. Nasser Mohammed Al Ali, Chairman of Qatar s National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW), and former Director- General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Hans Blakes attended the conference. Addressing the initial session, NCPW Chairman said the conference reflects the regional and global fears of nuclear weapons proliferation pointing to the exclusive side of the conference as being jointly sponsored by the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) and Qatar, which emphasizes the importance of cooperation and integration in the framework of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). NCPW Chairman added that Qatar has joined the NPT, established a special center for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and achieved efficient efforts for the prosperity of humanity voicing his hopes the conference would highlight such a crucial point. Stressing the importance of the NPT as a tool for achieving peace and security, Brig. (Pilot) Gen. Nasser Mohammed Al Ali further said that by tackling this point it could be determined how we look forward to a major participation of experts and the extent of their contribution which in turn will help enrich the conference's activities and will highlight the activities of the NPT. For his part, the former Director- General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Hans Blix who is also former chief UN weapons inspector thanked Qatari officials for the generous host and praised the country for hosting the event, saying that it shows Qatar's keenness on achieving world security and stability. "GCC countries are part of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and have become more active tin this regard. They will play a major role in evacuating the region of nuclear weapons because they talk a lot about it," Blix said in an exclusive statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA). Blix welcomed the results of an Israeli poll that indicated the majority of Israelis prefer a nuclear-weapons-free Middle East. The former UN official called on all the regional parties to seriously move to end that issue and establish a nuclear-weapons-free zone (NWFZ) Blix expected a negative result for Iran's meeting with the 5+1 group next month due to a deteriorating situation between Iran and the international community. He added that a replication of Iraq must be evaded and dealing with Iran must be done under the UN Convention umbrella. "Any attack on Iran from any side will be against the (UN Convention)," Blix said. International security expert Jim Walsh, who is a Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Programme, emphasized the Qatari role in freeing the Middle East of nuclear weapons. "Qatar is considered the backbone for all the efforts in this region to make it a nuclear-weapons-free zone, thanks to its vast relations with the different sides in addition to its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," Walsh said. He added that with the kind of communications and relations it enjoys in the Gulf region, Qatar is capable of holding discussions with regional countries on nuclear weapons. "Qatar has the same conditions of other Gulf countries and Iran, so it will be able to communicate well with its neighbors," said Walsh. The international security expert criticized the way Iran's nuclear programme is under the spot, with Israel's disregarded. "This is indeed a contradiction. Personally, I oppose the Israeli nuclear project, as I do to any other nuclear project," Walsh explained. International security expert Jim Walsh considered the nuclear programmes of North Korea, Israel and India as a major problem because the three of them didn't sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, adding that more attention should be paid to these countries. Walsh highlighted East Asia and the Middle East as two regions that need utmost concern, as North Korea already has nuclear weapons with other countries aspiring to have nuclear technology. (QNA)