Strasbourg, 17/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 17 January, the European Parliament bemoaned deferral of the conference on the creation of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, scheduled for 2012 (see EUROPE 10738). It urged the secretary general of the United Nations, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (HR) and the member states, among others, to ensure that the conference takes place as soon as possible early 2013. In their resolution adopted by a very large majority (569 for, 1 against and 61 abstentions), MEPs underline that they are firmly convinced that the creation of a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would promote peace and international stability, and would set an example and prove promising for the Global Zero campaign.
Welcoming EU involvement in the process aimed at creating such a zone, MEPS invite the HR to ensure that the EU remains actively committed to supporting the process, including by actively giving all parties concerned diplomatic encouragements to become involved in negotiations, in a constructive spirit and with renewed political determination.
The Parliament calls on all countries of the region to sign up to the convention on prohibiting the finalisation, manufacture, storage and use of chemical weapons, and on their destruction, as well as the convention on banning biological and toxin weapons. MEPs also underline how urgent this matter is, recalling the situation in Syria and Iran. (CG/transl.jl)