Omar Zniber, Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, reiterated the Kingdom’s strong commitment to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, emphasizing the importance of negative security assurances (NSAs) for non-nuclear-weapon states.
Addressing the Subsidiary Body 4 of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), Zniber stated that “Morocco is firmly convinced that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against their use or the threat of their use.” He stressed that until complete disarmament is achieved, legally binding, unconditional, and universal security assurances for non-nuclear-armed states (NNWS) are crucial.
While acknowledging existing efforts within the CD and other UN bodies, Zniber expressed disappointment at the lack of progress toward a legally binding instrument on NSAs. He pointed to UN Security Council resolutions 255 (1968) and 984 (1995) as providing some assurances but argued that these are insufficient.
Zniber also highlighted the importance of nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) in strengthening global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, citing successful examples in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the South Pacific.
This year, Morocco will preside over the 6th session of the Conference on establishing a NWFZ and other weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the Middle East. The Kingdom intends to use this opportunity to accelerate discussions and progress toward creating such a zone in this strategically vital region.
Zniber concluded by urging nuclear-armed states to withdraw their reservations regarding the protocols of existing NWFZ treaties, reiterating that security assurances should be unconditional.
SL/te/sf/lb/abj/APA