NEW YORK: Kuwait reiterated its unwavering commitment to establishing a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), during remarks delivered late Monday at a United Nations meeting in New York. Addressing the preparatory committee for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Diplomatic Attaché Abdulaziz Al-Seidi of Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the UN affirmed that Kuwait’s position is rooted in the outcomes of the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference.

That landmark agreement, he noted, remains a key legal and ethical foundation and binds nuclear-armed states, including the treaty’s depositary powers - the United States, United Kingdom and Russia. Al-Seidi stressed the importance of universal adherence to the NPT and full implementation of its provisions, particularly in achieving disarmament and preventing the spread of nuclear and other WMDs. He also lauded the increasing momentum behind the treaty, which aligns with United Nations General Assembly resolution 73/546 that advocates for the creation of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and WMDs.

Kuwait, he said, had chaired the second session of the related UN conference, which was also led in previous years by Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco. Reaffirming Kuwait’s transparent and principled approach to denuclearization, Al-Seidi urged NPT depositary states to uphold the treaty’s implementation in the region without discrimination. He warned against the continuation of selective policies that permit certain states to possess nuclear arsenals while denying the same to others.

“The (Zionist) occupation’s continued possession of nuclear weapons poses a direct threat to regional security, particularly to the Palestinian people,” he said. “Such a stance not only obstructs the goals of non-proliferation but also deepens perceptions of injustice and double standards in the international disarmament framework.” Al-Seidi called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and press Zionists to place its nuclear facilities under the comprehensive safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Reiterating Kuwait’s firm support for the NPT, Al-Seidi emphasized the importance of a balanced and inclusive implementation of the treaty’s provisions to bolster international peace and stability. He also highlighted the need for nuclear-armed states to meet their legal obligations, including extending technical cooperation to non-nuclear signatories. He concluded by calling for the Zionist entity to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state and to fully submit its nuclear activities to IAEA monitoring, in pursuit of lasting regional and global security. — KUNA