EGYPT

STATEMENT

BY

AMBASSADOR MOUNIR ZAHRAN

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF EGYPT

IN GENEVA

BEFORE

THE THIRD SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE FOR THE

2000 REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE

TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

NEW YORK, 12 MAY 1999

ARTICLES I AND 2 - ARTICLE VI - UNIVERSALITY

Mr. Chairman,

Under Article I of the NPT, "each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly;

Under Article II of the NPT "each non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly;

Neither Article I nor Article II suffer any exceptions.

Notwithstanding the clear and unambiguous nature of Articles I & II of the NPT, NATO's so-called "Nuclear Sharing" arrangements and its concepts regarding nuclear deterrence, as reflected in its latest declaration on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, raise significant doubts over the extent of compliance of some NATO members with the provisions of both of these Articles and the extent of conformity and compatibility of commitments undertaken by participants in such arrangements with the provisions of the NPT. Furthermore, Egypt is concerned about proposals for a Europeanized nuclear force based on the policy of "concerted deterrence". These questions need to be addressed by these nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States.

Mr. Chairman,

Within Article VI of the NPT is enshrined the dynamic nature of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. It is only upon full implementation of Article VI that the current no n-prolife ration regime will give way to a world free from nuclear weapons.

Egypt welcomes and encourages all steps that would lead the nuclear weapon States to take the necessary and practical measures, unilaterally or bilaterally, towards the achievement of a world free from nuclear weapons. The ultimate culmination of the process of nuclear disarmament is likely to be a treaty banning nuclear weapons. All members of the international community will be expected to sign such a treaty. Bearing this in mind, it is only legitimate that members of the international community should participate in the process leading to this objective. As multilateral negotiations have taken place on non-proliferation issues and even in the field of other weapons of mass destruction, so they must on nuclear disarmament issues. Like all five nuclear-weapon States, non-nuclear weapon States too must be present and must bring their contribution and their vision to this important process.

Mr. Chairman,

Egypt is deeply concerned about reports and information, involving NPT States parties and non-parties, whereby commitments related to nuclear non-proliferation binding on States Parties seem to have been completely disregarded. Egypt believes that circumventing the NPT in the quest for other forms of non-proliferation commitments would set a negative precedent which might lead to the collapse of the whole regime, and would not only caution against it, but would strongly deplore it.

Mr. Chairman,

Related to the above, Egypt's position on the univemality of the NPT is well known. Given prevailing conditions in the Middle East, and most notably Israel's continued refusal to adhere to the NPT and to subject all its nuclear facilities to full scope IAEA safeguards, the non-achievement of the NPT's universality is a matter which has direct bearing and affects negatively the supreme national interests of non-nuclear-weapon States Parties to the Treaty, and among them Egypt, which cannot accept to co-exist in a peaceful environment in its region while Israel persists in pursuing ambiguous nuclear policies and maintains its grip on the nuclear option, and reports still refer to the continued development of its nuclear capabilities that threaten regional and international peace and security. Over the years Egypt has shown a remarkable degree of self-restraint vis-a-vis the impunity with which this blatant case of nuclear non-proliferation since the entry into force of the NPT has been allowed to go on. Today Egypt requests and expects no less than full support from the States Parties to the NPT. The PrepCom must recommend to the 2000 Review Conference that it issue a clear and unambiguous statement calling on Israel to adhere immediately to the NPT, to subject all its nuclear facilities to full scope IAEA safeguards and to enter into negotiations with other States of the region on the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone as an imperative step for the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

Thank you.