By IANS
New York : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has called for developing effective safeguards for non-nuclear states against the growing threats or risks from nuclear weapons.
Addressing the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly Saturday, UAE’s delegation member Hind Abdulaziz Alowais observed that nuclear disarmament has suffered a serious set-back, and urged a bigger role for the UN nuclear watchdog, WAM news agency reported Sunday.
Alowais pointed out that nuclear technology has been acquired by some states through bilateral cooperation with nuclear weapon states outside the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) while nuclear states have been working to make their arsenals more lethal.
“Some nuclear states have improved and developed nuclear weapons and their delivery system with a view to making these weapons more effective, while some others have introduced new types of offensive weapons in contravention with the non-proliferation system”, he said.
Alowai also emphasised what he called attempts by certain nuclear states to develop a new concept for the strategic-defence doctrine based on nuclear weapons. “The new concept is built on an offensive strategy, not a defensive one”, he added.
“Therefore, we stress the importance of developing a universal, unconditional instrument that provides the necessary safeguards for non-nuclear states against any threats or risks that might result from the use of existing nuclear arsenals,” Alowai said.