NEW YORK // Arab leaders celebrated a diplomatic victory this weekend after advancing plans for a nuclear-free Middle East and highlighting Israel's suspected atomic arsenal.
At the five-yearly review of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on Friday, the 189 signatories agreed to a final document calling for steps towards freeing the Middle East of nuclear arms and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The creation of such a zone was agreed on in 1995 but has not been enacted. This weekend's declaration calls for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to organise a meeting of Middle East states in 2012 to agree on the creation of a nuclear and WMD-free region.
Agreement came after weeks of fractious debate that threatened to derail the conference, with particular focus on whether the 28-page document mentioned Israel by name - a move that was resisted by Israel's ally, the United States, until the final hours.
The final document calls upon Israel - which is believed to possess a large nuclear stockpile but was not present at the talks as it is not a signatory to the NPT - to join the treaty and open its nuclear sites to the UN's watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Maged Abdelaziz, Egypt's UN ambassador, speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of 118 developing countries, said "we have moved forward and achieved progress in adopting an action plan to push towards" ridding the region of its most destructive arms.
Lebanon's ambassador to the UN, Nawaf Salam, speaking for Arab states, described the "need for Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state".
An Algerian diplomat, Mohammed Belaoura, lauded the "major achievement". "Since its adoption 15 years ago as part of a package on the indefinite extension of the NPT, no progress was made. Today, states parties successfully managed to adopt concrete measures with the necessary political will of all stakeholders, which will lead to the creation of the conditions for a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East."
Arab states and Israel's allies had disagreed over wording in the final document, especially the section highlighting "the importance of Israel's accession to the NPT" - a move that would require it to scrap its arsenal.
Iran demanded that the NPT document insist that Israel join the treaty before the 2012 conference. Egypt's envoy, Mr Abdelaziz, said the Arab position was softer - that Israel's accession to the treaty would come as "part of the process" that begins in two years.
Although Israel apparently acquiesced to Washington urging that it take part in the 2012 conference, it objected to participating under terms in which it was the only nation mentioned in this way, diplomats said.
Ellen Tauscher, the US undersecretary for arms control and international security, voiced support for the 2012 conference but echoed Israel's position that disarmament will only begin after a peace deal with its Arab neighbours.
"The US has long supported such a zone, although our view is that a comprehensive and durable peace in the region and full compliance by all regional states with their arms control and non-proliferation obligations are essential precursors for its establishment," said the US president, Barack Obama. "We strongly oppose efforts to single out Israel, and will oppose actions that jeopardise Israel's national security."
As US officials appeared to backtrack on supporting the 2012 conference, Israelis reacted angrily to the final document, denouncing the "hypocrisy" of calling for a nuclear-free Middle East without making mention of Iran, which is suspected of seeking nuclear weapons.
"Only Israel is mentioned, while the text is silent about other countries like India, Pakistan and North Korea, which have nuclear arms, or even more seriously, Iran, which is seeking to obtain them," a senior government official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.
"The fact that no reference is made to Iran is even more shocking, given that the International Atomic Energy Agency has disclosed more and more information in recent months on the military character of Iranian nuclear projects."
Besides Israel's attendance, other important details of a 2012 Middle East conference remain to be worked out, such as where it will take place and whether the talks will lead to formal negotiations on a treaty.
Anne Penketh, an analyst from the British American Security Information Council, said the last-minute deal between Arabs and the US had "snatched victory from the jaws of defeat". The NPT final document is accepted by consensus, meaning all signatories have an effective veto.
"The decision to convene a conference in two years' time to move towards a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMDs is a major achievement, after 15 years of inaction," said Ms Penketh. "It is a creative way of bringing Israel and Iran to the same table to address pressing security concerns."
Under the document's action plan, the five recognised nuclear-weapon states - the US, Russia, Britain, France and China - commit to speed up arms reductions, take other steps to diminish the importance of atomic weapons, and report back on progress by 2014.
Some analysts complained that the final document watered-down the NAM's demands that official nuclear weapons states - also the permanent members of the UN Security Council - set a timeline for disarmament.
"Many of the disarmament actions in the final document are phrased more as aspirational goals than firm commitments to disarm," said Tim Wright, from the Australian-based International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
"The nuclear weapon states still see nuclear abolition as a far-off vision, not a near-term objective, and have resisted attempts to include benchmarks or time frames for achieving elimination."
@Email:jreinl@thenational.ae
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Results
Male 51kg Round 1
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.
Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
Female 57kg quarter finals
Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Maestro
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T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Company%20Profile
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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