BICOM

A joint statement by the UK, US and Russia yesterday supported the Israeli view that the Middle East cannot make progress towards becoming a nuclear-free zone in the absence of more general progress toward regional peace and resolution of conflicts. The statement was made at a meeting convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency, bringing Israel together with Arab states to discuss how to work towards establishing a nuclear-arms free zone in the Middle East.

The statement to the closed meeting, which ended without substantive progress, said that Nuclear weapon-free zones do not ‘exist in isolation from other security factors.’ Rather, such a zone must see ‘the states in the region united in their aspiration to provide for strengthened regional stability and security.’ This reflects the Israeli position. Israeli officials were particularly pleased to note Russia’s signing on to the statement, saying that this reflected a rare acknowledgement by Moscow of Israel’s security concerns.

The forum was boycotted by Iran.