In a joint statement, 23 countries, including Libya, warned of the risk of nuclear conflict, stressing that this concern remains as high as it has been for decades.
This came during a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear security, where the statement was read by the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the agency, Rabulan Mulkan, according to the Russian agency “TASS”.
The signatories to the statement expressed grave concern about the lack of progress in nuclear disarmament, explaining that the likelihood of nuclear conflict is the highest in years.
She stressed the urgent need to take rapid steps to achieve complete and irreversible nuclear disarmament, considering that such action would have a positive impact on global security.
The statement pointed out that nuclear weapons contain 90% of the world’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, calling for the need for these materials to be subject to international standards on physical protection as a prerequisite for achieving nuclear security. The statement also stressed the right of countries to possess atomic energy for peaceful purposes, stressing the importance of not obstructing international cooperation in this field due to security measures.
Signatories to the statement included: Libya, Algeria, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Malaysia, Namibia, Palestine, Panama, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Philippines, Chile and South Africa.
South Africa expressed grave concern at the growing threats of the use of nuclear weapons, noting Israeli threats against civilians in Gaza.
It condemned the continuing violence against Palestinians and welcomed the call by the International Criminal Court prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes.
Washington..and the confrontation in Libya