New York, October 19 (QNA) - The State of Qatar underscored the necessity of concerted international action to achieve the ultimate goal of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

The affirmation came in a statement delivered by member of Qatar's delegation participating in the 81st session of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly Abdullah Nasser Al Kaabi during the Committee's deliberations on the agenda item titled "Nuclear Weapons" at UN headquarters in New York.

Al Kaabi explained that the development of nuclear weapons, or the threat of their use, particularly the trend among some states to entrench nuclear weapons within their military and security doctrines, alongside continued testing of such weapons and their delivery systems, exacerbates tensions and undermines international peace and security. He emphasized the necessity of adhering to treaties concerning the prohibition, non-use, and elimination of nuclear weapons, foremost among them being the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). In this regard, he reiterated the State of Qatar's support for the seventh session of the UN Conference on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, to be held this November under the presidency of the Sultanate of Oman.

Addressing key disarmament forums, he pointed out that the 11th Review Conference of the NPT, held from April 27 to May 22, failed to reach a consensus on a final document. Furthermore, he highlighted that the UN Disarmament Commission, the primary forum for disarmament negotiations, also failed to reach consensus-based recommendations over the course of three consecutive sessions. Regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, an inherent and inalienable right of member states under Article IV of the NPT, he emphasized the importance of strict adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) comprehensive safeguards, adding that the Agency's technical cooperation programs serve as an essential tool for knowledge transfer, capacity building, and ensuring compliance with the highest standards of nuclear safety and security.

Touching upon bilateral cooperation, he stated that the State of Qatar maintains close institutional and technical ties with the Agency, highlighting that Qatar has previously served multiple terms as a member of the IAEA Board of Governors. In this context, he drew attention to the partnership agreement signed between the State of Qatar, represented by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), and the Agency on September 26, 2025, valued at USD 600,000 to support technical cooperation projects aimed at enhancing radiomedical services in Syria, reflecting Qatar's commitment to humanitarian and developmental goals.

He concluded by expressing Qatar's welcome of IAEA Board of Governors' decision to close the non-compliance file concerning Syria and to remove the country from the list of non-compliant states, a significant development that allows Syria to restore its normal status within the Agency. (QNA)