Qatar Stresses Countries' 'Inalienable' Right to Peaceful Use of Nuclear Power

Qatar Stresses Countries' 'Inalienable' Right to Peaceful Use of Nuclear Power

New York/Information Office/06 October 2016/ Qatar has reiterated its support for the "inalienable right of countries" to the peaceful use of nuclear power as long as nuclear programs are developed in abidance with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and verification standards. HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Thani, third secretary at Qatar's permanent delegation to the United Nations, made the remarks as he addressed the First Committee, which focuses on disarmament and international security, as part of the 71st session of the U.N. general assembly. He said that Qatar was always keen on adopting a firm stance in regarding the issues of disarmament and non-proliferation thanks to its strong belief that achieving international peace and security is a joint responsibility for member states. He expressed concern at the lack of progress in establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, adding that multilateralism was the only way to address the issues of disarmament, non-proliferation and international security in general. He added that Qatar reiterates its commitment to cooperate in this regard in line with the U.N. charter and in order to enhance international peace and security and rid humanity of weapons of mass destruction in general and nuclear weapons in particular. Four decades after the adoption of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Thani said, nuclear threats remain and even grow as nuclear-weapon states get involved in conflicts, and current stockpiles remain a threat to humankind. HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Thani highlighted Qatar's efforts to eradicate all weapons of mass destruction, saying that Qatar sought to abide by all its disarmament obligations, adding that it had hosted and financed a number of disarmament-related events and meetings. He stressed Qatar's stance that a disarmament conference is the only negotiation event to discuss disarmament issues and that such an event must endorse a balanced and comprehensive program that leads to the formation of secondary committees to negotiate the eradication of nuclear weapons. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Thani went over Qatar's efforts on the national front, pointing to the work of the National Committee on Arms Embargo since its inception in 2004 in terms of providing consultation to concerned government entities regarding arms embargo in order to achieve goals of the conventions that Qatar is party to. In 2012, Qatar established the Doha Regional Center for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Training, which provides training services at the national, regional and international levels, he said. He added that Qatar backs all international steps and announcements that would help in achieving U.N. goals in the eradication of nuclear weapons.