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 made by HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN 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.
Qatar's statement said 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 Qatar's call to respond urgently to the call of the UN Secretary-General for a ceasefire around the world and provide an opportunity to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
It 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 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's aspiration for the co-operation 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 Qatar's efforts and its contribution to achieving international peace and security, the statement drew attention to the State's keenness to join international agreements and treaties in disarmament and to participate effectively in the activities and meetings of UN organisations working towards that.
The statement indicated that 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's commitment to nuclear safety and security standards.
In conclusion, it reiterated Qatar's full commitment to fulfilling its pledges as a party to international instruments in disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation to achieve regional and international peace and security.