Under-Secretary of State Jaakko Laajava's report to the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: The channel to regional dialogue in the Middle East has been opened

In his address to the Review Conference, convening in New York today, Under-Secretary of State Jaakko Laajava, the facilitator of the regional Conference on the Establishment of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East, stated that as a result of consultations under his leadership the countries of the Middle East have opened a channel for mutual dialogue. He hoped that the countries will use the new channel of dialogue for discussion on how to enhance security and stability in the region.

The UN Secretary-General appointed Laajava as the Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ) facilitator in October 2011. The facilitator was assigned to hold consultations about a conference dealing with the establishment of a WMDFZ in the Middle East. The Review Conference was convened by the UN Secretary-General, the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States. However, the Arab States, Israel and Iran have not to date reached consensus on the conference agenda. 

According to Laajava, both the Arab States and Israel took an active part in the unofficial discussions on the issues of security in the region, conducted in Switzerland in 2013–14. A Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East is a long-term objective that requires years of efforts.

Laajava emphasized the Middle East countries' own responsibility for the zone project. The facilitator can help if the countries of the region have political will and a common goal.

Discussion on the matter will continue. The Conference is expected to end on 22 May.

Additional information:  Hannu Kyröläinen, Counsellor for Foreign Affairs (from 18:00 to 24:00 Finnish time), tel. +358 40 503 9719.