General Assembly
Statement by
Meir Itzchaki
Representative of Israel to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
Mr. Chairperson,
Israel asked for the floor to express its disappointment from the results of this year's IAEA General Conference. Israel believes that this year's GC impairs the GC's ability to address constructively issues pertaining to the Middle East.
Unfortunately, during this year's IAEA's General Conference states of the region failed to demonstrate the necessary will to promote regional talks on the establishment of a NWFZ as was demonstrated by the resolutions on the Middle East, including the one-sided discriminative resolution on the so called "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities" which was adopted by narrow majority. This resolution sought to divert attention away from the blatant cases of non compliance with NPT obligations by several Middle Eastern states.
Mr. Chairperson,
It should be noted that prior to and during the GC, Israel exerted every effort in order to regain consensus on the "Middle East Package". Israel trusts and hopes that the unfortunate circumstances, which have cast a dark shadow over the IAEA's General Conference's handling of the resolutions pertaining to the Middle East, will not repeat themselves next year. Israel will continue to dedicate all its efforts to achieve a stable environment of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East. We call upon our neighbors to do the same.
Finally Mr. Chairperson, Israel wishes to disassociate itself from the reference in the Report with regard to the so called Israeli attack on the "Dir Azour" site in Syria. This politically motivated reference contradicts a long standing practice of the Agency professionalism.
Thank you.
