S/PV.6235
6235th meeting
Thursday, 10 December 2009, 10 a.m.
New York
Non-proliferation
Mr. Dabbashi (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, we should like to express our gratitude to Ambassador Takasu of Japan, Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) for his briefing on the work of the Committee over the past 90 days.
Libya reaffirms the importance of stepping up international efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, based on a commitment to Security Council resolution 1803 (2008), which calls for continued diplomatic efforts to encourage renewed dialogue and consultations with Iran with a view to achieving a comprehensive, appropriate and long-term solution to this issue. That would open the way for the development of comprehensive relations and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran on the basis of mutual respect and for the building of international confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. In this respect, we call on all relevant parties to continue direct negotiations until that goal is achieved. We repeat that what happened in Iraq should not be allowed to occur again anywhere else in the world, especially when it is based on groundless information.
Libya reiterates its conviction that we must deal with questions of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament in a comprehensive and non-selective way and that all States, without exception, must subject their nuclear facilities to the safeguards regime of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
We note with disapproval that the Security Council has disregarded Israel’s nuclear weapons, even though that country refuses to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty or to subject its facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s comprehensive safeguards regime. This stands as an obstacle to the aspirations of the States of the Middle East to create a nuclear weapons-free zone, as expressed at the 1995 Review Conference of the States Parties to the NPT concerning the Middle East and in relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. The International Atomic Energy Agency must inspect the Israeli Dimona reactor, so as to confirm that Israel is not above the law. Otherwise, all States in the Middle East can rightly wonder why they do not have the right to have such weapons while Israel does possess them.
Our concern for and commitment to the
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons should not lead us to forget the inalienable right of all States Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, to possess nuclear energy and to develop nuclear technology. In this respect, we reaffirm that the International Atomic Energy Agency is the only specialized authority equipped to verify the fulfilment by States parties of the safeguards agreements, carried out in compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, in order to prohibit nuclear energy being diverted from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons and other forms of nuclear explosive devices.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is also the international coordinating centre for technical cooperation in nuclear matters. The international community should consider expanding the functions of the Agency to include the verification of bilateral nuclear arsenal reductions carried out by nuclear States, with a view to achieving the ultimate goal of totally eliminating these nuclear arsenals.
In conclusion, we reaffirm that international peace and security cannot be achieved through the possession of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, or the threat of their use. Rather, these can be achieved by consolidating the principles of dialogue, understanding and mutual respect, upholding justice and promoting fruitful cooperation between States. We hope that those States which possess nuclear weapons will uphold their responsibilities in this area.
