Egypt has called for the resignation of the coordinator for a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (NWFZ) during the ongoing NPT Review Conference in New York.
According to Reuters news agency, Egypt is unsatisfied with the progress made so far, since it is aiming for a conference within 180 days after the NPT conference. The conference would be to discuss the ban on WMDs in the Middle East.
The report cites officials warning that Arab proposals, most calling for the immediate signing of the NPT treaty by Israel, might push the Jewish state away.
Without its participation, such a conference would be virtually useless, since Israel is the only Middle Eastern country that presumably commands over an arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Previous ‘working papers’ drafted by the group of Non-Aligned States, headed by Iran, and by the Arab League states all aimed to push Israel under the framework of the NPT and put its nuclear installations under supervision of the IAEA.
Ahead of the Review Conference, Egypt made it clear that the NWFZ is one of its top priorities, with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasising the need for such a zone on every possible occasion.
