Dr Hans Blix, the world’s leading expert on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) said the establishment of a nuclear weapon free zone will strengthen the NPT, promote global disarmament and help the Middle East peace process.
"European countries are putting pressure to initiate a nuclear weapon free zone. Israel and Iran can simultaneously scale down their nuclear programmes if this conference will lead to a serious accord,” Blix said.
An MENWFZ is favoured by all the Middle East countries and the only question remains is who among them will first take the initiative, Blix said: “The idea is being floated that the Gulf may initiate it. Last year, a survey in Israel resulted in about 64 per cent favouring the Middle East (for the) nuclear weapon free zone.”
He discounted any possibility of Iran attacking Israel, and said no war will be authorised by the United Nations Security Council as a majority of its members are against it.
He said that after the Iraq war in 2003, and especially the UK discussion on the legality of the Iraq war, the UN economic sanctions, and that imposed by the US, are deemed a very strong deterrent to compel Iran to comply with the call to nuclear disarmament. “Iran cannot attack Israel, and declaring war against Iran is a violation of the UN Charter,” he said.
“We believe that the sanctions have already hurt Iran as they have largely reduced Iran’s revenues. Iran suspended 20 per cent of its uranium enrichment in November 2012 to have Western-imposed sanctions lifted, and it became a positive step from Iran,” he said.
Blix said NPT is not falling apart, as nuclear weapon states such as USA, UK, France, Russia and China, which also compose the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, have been negotiating for nuclear disarmament and those who have no nuclear arsenals have committed not to go into it: “US and Russia have already taken steps to dismantle nuclear weapons. Only we do not know whether the time frame is realistic or not.”
“There is ‘boxing in the corners’ right now as threats can underline diplomacy. Even US State Secretary John Kerry declared recently that ‘wider opportunity cannot be opened forever’ and urged nations to consider the nuclear free zone.
He also said big challenges ahead will drive nuclear disarmament today to positive result. “There is no major conflict between China, US and Russia. Oil and natural resources will play in role but disarmament will continue.”
