Europa & Palestine News « Europa & Middle East News
On Friday September 20 2013, on the last day of the 57th General Conference held in Vienna, fifty one member states of the IAEA voted in favour of Israel keeping its nuclear weapons and against a draft resolution (GC(57)1.3) submitted by the Arab States regarding israeli “Nuclear Capabilities”, which called on Israel to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 42 countries vote in favour of the resolution and 32 abstained.
During the morning, before the start of the last session day of the 57th IAEA General Conference, USA delegates engaged in a systematic campaign against the Arab States draft resolution. US and israeli delegates were seen during the morning wandering the conference room and systematically meeting with all country delegations, speaking to delegates representing small countries which rely on US and EU financial aid. It was clear that the US and israeli representatives to the IAEA “recommended” to these other countries to vote against the draft resolution introduced by the Arab states.
The thwarting of the draft resolution on israeli Nuclear Weapons clearly shows the double standards of the state members of the IAEA towards the major issue of the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, which threaten the security of the whole region.
UN Vote in Favour of Israeli Nuclear Weapon
On Friday September 20 2013, on the last day of the 57th General Conference held in Vienna, fifty one member states of the IAEA voted in favour of Israel keeping its nuclear weapons and against a draft resolution (GC(57)1.3) submitted by the Arab States regarding israeli “Nuclear Capabilities”, which called on Israel to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 42 countries vote in favour of the resolution and 32 abstained.
Arab states submitted a non-binding resolution on israel nuclear weapons for the first time during the IAEA 54th General Conference in 2010. The courageous step, which was impeded because of the cowed silence of the international community and the IAEA member states regarding the lack of movement in efforts to create a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, was strongly opposed by israel, USA, Canada, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and the EU, who all colluded to thwart consecutive draft resolutions in this regards introduced by Arab states.
During the morning, before the start of the last session day of the 57th IAEA General Conference, USA delegates engaged in a systematic campaign against the Arab States draft resolution. US and israeli delegates were seen during the morning wandering the conference room and systematically meeting with all country delegations, speaking to delegates representing small countries which rely on US and EU financial aid. It was clear that the US and israeli representatives to the IAEA “recommended” to these other countries to vote against the draft resolution introduced by the Arab states.The thwarting of the draft resolution on israeli Nuclear Weapons clearly shows the double standards of the state members of the IAEA towards the major issue of the Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, which threaten the security of the whole region.
The USA and Canada “justified” their rejection claiming that the draft introduced by the Arab states is backed by Iran, which “seeks a nuclear arms capability” according to their abstruse claims.
The US envoy to the IAEA, Joseph Macmanus, claimed that “targeting its close ally would only hurt broader steps aimed at banning nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the tinderbox region”. He even regretted that the resolution was brought to a vote.
Why did the organisers of the plenary sessions of the IAEA 57th General conference delay the speech of the Palestinian delegation until the middle of the night of Sep. 19 2013, the last available slot?
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which he highlighted the Agency’s major programmes, activities and developments. He said that the nuclear power remains the best known peaceful application of nuclear energy.