16-05-09 Hosseini regrets approach of certain nuclear states towards NPT

Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Mohammad-Ali Hosseini regretted that certain nuclear states had adopted an inappropriate approach regarding the NPT issues.Hosseini,who was head of the Iranian delegation to the preparation for the 2010 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference,made the remarks while talking to IRNA correspondent.Referring to the achievements of the two-week meeting,he said coordination among member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was among the positive outcomes of the meeting.He added that the NAM states reached a consensus on various issues.“We did not witness any serious efforts by nuclear states regarding the issue of disarmament,” Hosseini regretted.Turning to the current status of the NPT,he said although the treaty has many defects and weaknesses,it still can guarantee the interests of the member states as it can force them to be committed to their obligations.Although the treaty is in need of reforms and amendments,the member states can achieve their rights within the framework of the treaty and according to its various articles,he added.As to the idea of the Mideast free from nuclear weapons,the Iranian diplomat said the only country possessing nuclear weapons in the region is Israel.The Zionist regime should be obliged to annihilate all its nuclear weapons,he said,underlining the need for exerting pressure on the Tel Aviv regime and its allies to materialize the idea of the Middle East free from nuclear weapons.Hosseini said that,during the NPT meeting,Washington called on the Zionist regime to be a signatory to the treaty.He expressed satisfaction with the efforts made by members of the Iranian delegation at the meeting to neutralize attempts of certain Western states to restrict rights of the NPT members.Members of the Iranian delegation to the NPT meeting left New York for Tehran Friday evening