The State of Qatar highlighted the need for Israel’s cooperation regarding its nuclear capabilities with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to open its atomic reactors to inspectors.

HE Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri, Qatar’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Austria and its Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, represented Qatar during the session of the IAEA Board of Governors held in Vienna.

HE stated that the State of Qatar strongly supports the rule of law in international relations during the discussion of the Israeli nuclear capabilities topic.

Furthermore, HE noted that the goal of nuclear disarmament in accordance with international agreements and United Nations resolutions is one of the means to uphold the rule of law in international relations.

Nuclear disarmament would act as a basic guarantee for creating a peaceful and stable international environment that enhances opportunities for sustainable development for all peoples, HE explained.

The State of Qatar stressed the importance of Israel cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its nuclear capabilities, and to open its atomic reactors to inspectors. #QNA pic.twitter.com/oThKDWTj7A

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) June 12, 2021

According to HE, the State of Qatar and all other Arab countries have joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons.

While Israel has refused to engage in these efforts, Qatar and other Arab countries have adopted and agreed to all international resolutions calling for the Middle East to be free of nuclear weapons.

During the session, HE referred to the recent behavior of Israel in its policy towards the Palestinians, its failure to observe international law, and its use of all kinds of weapons to oppress the Palestinian people.

HE explained that recent acts of Israeli aggression on Gaza, and the excessive and disproportionate use of force against civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure has resulted in angered global public opinion, including Israeli public opinion, and raised fundamental questions about whether Israel behaves as a responsible state and uses its weapons in accordance with the rules of international law.

Moreover, HE raised the terrifying question of whether Israel will irresponsibly use its weapons, including nuclear weapons, in the future.

His Excellency responded to the allegations of the Israeli representative in the IAEA against the State of Qatar, asking him to stop giving speeches of incitement and deliberately obliterating facts.

HE asked the Israeli representative not to evade revealing the truth about Israel's nuclear capabilities, stressing the importance of Israel’s cooperation with the IAEA regarding its nuclear capabilities and to open its atomic reactors to inspectors.

HE urged the international community and its relevant institutions to support the goal of freeing the Middle East from nuclear weapons, and to take practical steps to achieve that goal based on its legal and moral responsibility.

In the field of technical cooperation, HE praised IAEA’s role in assisting countries through the transfer of nuclear knowledge necessary to achieve sustainable, social, and economic development, especially in developing countries, and to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

HE expressed Qatar's gratitude for the good cooperation that the agency maintains with Qatari institutions by providing advice and implementing a number of projects.

HE noted that Qatar is currently consulting with the agency in order to open new horizons for cooperation to serve national programs, as well as contributing to supporting the efforts of developing countries to use nuclear techniques for peaceful purposes.

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