The State of Qatar affirmed its belief in peaceful resolution of armed conflicts as the best and most effective way to ensure maintaining peace and security at the regional and international levels, and to free the world of conflicts that have disastrous and destructive impacts on local communities, consequently the Arab countries and neighboring countries and regions.
This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons (NCPW) Saad Abdulhadi Al Marri, before the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly "Disarmament and Regional Security".
Al Marri said disarmament is closely linked to achieving regional security, because the effects resulting from any armed conflict extend beyond the borders of the state or states party to the conflict, threatening the security of the specific region or territory through the spread of weapons or fighting groups. He added that the existence of regional alliances or those confined to areas with political or economic ties or common security challenges can be a positive factor contributing to disarmament, thus realizing regional security and peace.
He emphasized that the concept of nuclear-weapon-free zones and other weapons of mass destruction, and agreements or arrangements for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, achieve security and peace at the regional level, and provide positive guarantees for disarmament, as they are regional arrangements that take into account the requirements of the region. Accordingly, regional organizations and blocs are considered positive factors that can contribute to strengthening peace and security at the regional level.
Aiming to enhance its role in maintaining regional peace and security, the State of Qatar pays great attention to implementing agreements and treaties in the field of disarmament in general; and adhering to treaties and arrangements for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the prohibition of their use, threat of use, or conducting nuclear tests in particular, within the framework of supporting international efforts to completely eliminating nuclear weapons, the NCPW Deputy Chairman stressed.
He indicated that the State of Qatar is updating laws and procedures related to disarmament and non-proliferation at the national level in order to keep pace with the agreements and treaties to which it is a party, and is actively participating in international and regional conferences, forums and assemblies related to disarmament.
With regard to the Middle East, Al Marri beleived that the proliferation of weapons, including nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, increases the risks of tensions and conflicts in this region.
He noted that the Middle East is still the only region in the world that has not made progress towards nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction disarmament. Therefore, complete and comprehensive nuclear disarmament at the international level will only be achieved by freeing the Middle East region of nuclear weapons, as confirmed by the resolution issued by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which called for the establishment of a zone in the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their delivery systems on a sustainable basis."
Al Marri renewed the State of Qatar's support for holding the fifth session of the UN Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons snd other Weapons of Mass Destruction in November. In this context, he conveyed the State of Qatar's thanks to the sisterly State of Libya for the work it had carried out during its presidency of the previous session of the conference, stressing that the State of Qatar looks forward to working with the sisterly Republic of Mauritania during its presidency of the fifth session of the conference.
He noted that the State of Qatar hosted the Third Arab Forum for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in June; adding that the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, held the regional meeting "Views on the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons snd other Weapons of Mass Destruction", on the sidelines of the Forum.
