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IAEA Director General feels focus of NPT Review Conference to fall on Middle East

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke at a press conference in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, on April 21. When asked about the prospects for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference set to open in the United States in May, Mr. Amano shared his view that "issues involving the Middle East will become a focus of the conference."

The NPT Review Conference in 1995 determined that the NPT would be extended indefinitely and, at the same time, resolved to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction. With the Middle East Resolution in mind, Mr. Amano pointed out that "Positive steps have been taken with regard to nuclear disarmament, as demonstrated by the signing of the new START Treaty between the United States and Russia, as well as other developments. However, progress on issues involving the Middle East has been lacking and that is a source of significant frustration for many Middle Eastern countries."

Referring to the uranium enrichment pursued by Iran, Mr. Amano said, "Many NPT member countries insist that nations should first abide by the rules if they wish to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. I would like the participating countries at the NPT Review Conference to create a framework in which Iran is encouraged to conform to this standard."

Mr. Amano also served as chairman of the NPT Preparatory Committee in 2007.

(Originally published on April 22, 2010)

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