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The 2nd Civil
Conference Parallel to the Future Forum
7-8 November 2005 - Bahrain
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We all agree that
despite the diverse and numerous initiatives calling for reform that
landed on the Middle East and North Africa from abroad, we are in dire
need for comprehensive reform and change in all the region, even
worldwide.
Yet, how can such reform be achieved in a region which human development
reports on which these initiatives were based stating that the region
suffered from lack of freedoms, of knowledge, and non empowerment of
women. Hence, the USA and certain European countries proposed these
initiatives to promote Arab countries as well as Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Turkey, Iran and Israel and placed all of them in one basket. The wider
Middle East and North Africa project was put forward in a bid to reform
and elevate the region, realize democracy as well as economic and social
growth. Consequently, conditions in the region will improve and ensure
its stability. This will also impact Europe and America and help in
eradicating terrorist networks, drug trafficking, arms trafficking and
illegal immigration.
In fact, peoples of the region aspire for change, democracy, freedom and
seek to combat terrorism which is based on the culture of striking all
those who oppose its views relentlessly. As the Middle East region is
regarded as breeding grounds for terrorism, we as a people living in
this part of the world demand the eradication of the culture of
terrorism, not only in the Middle East but in the entire world. By
terrorism we mean state terrorism based on double standards vis-ˆ-vis
our issues.
Given we all agree that it is necessary to establish peace and security
in the region, we demand the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction
in the Middle East. I refer here to the different initiatives made in
this concern. The Franco-German project for future partnership with the
Middle East concerning security matters stated: " to follow up existing
measures to combat terrorism and nuclear proliferation, to fight against
organized crime and illegal immigration" as well as " to launch an
initiative aimed at encouraging Middle East countries to test a local
security structure that in the first stage will enable it to address
disputes pertaining to: borders, confidence and security measures,
combating terrorism, smuggling weapons of mass destruction and to seek
once more in eliminating these weapons from the region."
Moreover, the covenant on solidarity and friendship concluded by leaders
of Arab countries in May 2004, in articles 1 - 2 declared that the
achievement of these legitimate objectives shall be conducive to create
appropriate conditions in terms of confidence building, establishing
just, permanent and comprehensive peace in the region through the
convocation of an international conference for the elimination of
weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East including Israel. This
will herald a new stage of dژtente based on mutual commitment for peace
as a strategic option for Arab countries and all peoples in the region
so that they may focus their efforts on overcoming challenges facing
them and proceed in their development process."
In a paper on partnership for progress and a common future in the wider
Middle East region and North Africa issued in June 2004 in article 5 - A
the following is mentioned: "Strengthening the commitment of the
international community towards peace and stability in the wider Middle
East region and North Africa is imperative."
All this indicates that all parties stress the necessity of eliminating
weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in order to achieve
security, stability and sustainable development in the region. It will
also avert the outbreak of preemptive war upon the unfounded allegation
of possession of such weapons by any country similar to what happened in
Iraq. This as well as averting the possession of such weapons from
falling into the hands of terrorists that could ensue in unprecedented
catastrophe.
We must herewith indicate that the NPT enunciates principles that
commits all parties to refrain from nuclear proliferation and to engage
in disarmament. The NPT review meeting of 1995 adopted a resolution that
calls for establishing the Middle East as a region free from weapons of
mass destruction. Furthermore, the NPT review meeting of the year 2000
agreed on 13 steps that will lead to the elimination of weapons of mass
destruction, and stressed the need to that this resolution be
implemented in the region and to ensure that Israel accede to the treaty
as well as it should allow its nuclear systems to be inspected by the
IAEA.
The implementation of these resolutions will end the concern of the
American administration and European countries regarding the threat of
nuclear arms in the region. However, Israel refuses to accede to the
NPT. Unfortunately we are surprised by statements made by the US foreign
minister that defends this situation in that Israel has the right to
possess nuclear weapons because it is surrounded by enemies and has the
right to defend itself. This at a time when America threatens to launch
preemptive wars backed by nuclear deterrence against any country that
possesses such weapons. Moreover it accuses Iran as one of countries in
the axis of evil and fears its nuclear programme which Iran
categorically denies and that it is only meant for peaceful purposes.
All Arab countries have acceded and endorsed the Treaty even though they
did not possess such weapons. However, Israel has refused to join
despite its capability to destroy any Arab state with its short and
medium missiles and will not enter in any negotiations in this respect
unless with other nuclear countries in the region.
Being a non governmental organization we have been pursuing peace for 50
years since its establishment. We demand that the Middle East region be
free of weapons of mass destruction in order to secure peace and
stability especially as this will alleviate fears between the parties
concerned and culminate in the establishment of permanent, comprehensive
and just peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Furthermore, we request those outside the region who demand reform, to
fulfill their obligations towards us in terms of the stipulations of the
NPT and its Protocols in that nuclear super powers must take necessary
measures to get rid of their weapons gradually. None the less these
countries continue to develop their weapons systems.
Peoples of the wider Middle East region and North Africa aspire for
progress and political, economic and social prosperity which will only
be achieved by the establishment of security and elimination of all
forms of tension, disputes or conflicts.
Finally, AAPSO reconfirms that the final declaration should point out
that all parties should cooperate for the implementation of the
resolution on the elimination of weapons of mass destruction from the
Middle East and that member states shall have the right to use their
nuclear programmes for peaceful purposes. Nuclear super powers should
also be committed to disarm their weapons and pressure Israel to join
the NPT.
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Paper presented by
Hamsa Abdel Hamid Geneidi
Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) |
