Kuwait: Necessity of keeping Israel’s nuclear capabilities on the IAEA agenda

Kuwait has reaffirmed the necessity of keeping the issue of “Israel’s nuclear capabilities” on the agenda of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its relevant bodies until serious and effective steps are taken to address this situation.

This was stated in a speech delivered by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Fawaz Al-Bursali, during the discussion of the item “Other Business” at the conclusion of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting held in Vienna from September 7 to 11.

Kuwait emphasized the need for the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by urging Israel, the occupying power, to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), comply with its provisions, and subject all its nuclear facilities to the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards system.

At the outset of his speech, Ambassador Al-Bursali expressed Kuwait’s support for the statements issued by the Arab Group, as well as Kuwait’s gratitude and support for the statement by Qatar, before addressing several national points.

He reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to establishing a nuclear-weapon-free and weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the Middle East, in accordance with the 1995 NPT Review Conference decision and the outcomes of the 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences.

He noted the commitment of all Middle Eastern states to the NPT and the implementation of comprehensive safeguards agreements, with the exception of Israel—the occupying power—which continues to refuse to subject all its nuclear facilities to the IAEA’s comprehensive safeguards system and rejects any initiative or even serious steps in this direction.

He clarified that this “hinders the Agency’s ability to implement comprehensive safeguards in the Middle East or to establish a nuclear-weapon-free and weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the region.”

Ambassador Al-Bursali stated that “Israel’s intransigence—the occupying power—goes beyond rejecting initiatives; it persists in its non-compliance and violations of international legal resolutions.” In this context, he recalled Security Council Resolution 487, which called upon Israel to subject all its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards.

He added that other relevant resolutions include the 1995 NPT Review Conference decision, as well as the resolution adopted by the IAEA General Conference at its 53rd session, titled “Israel’s nuclear capabilities.”

In conclusion, he expressed his hope for close cooperation with member states and the IAEA, extending his thanks for the support he has received since arriving in Vienna at the beginning of the current week.