The election of Omar Hilale comes in a context marked by the sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the proliferation of risks of large-scale nuclear war, the rise of the arms race and the non-compliance with commitments taken in matters of disarmament and non-proliferation.
This conference is held pursuant to a decision of the General Assembly in 2018, and draws its mandate from the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Arms (NPT). nuclear powers, which was tasked with examining the treaty and the question of its extension.
The ultimate goal of this conference is to negotiate a legally binding treaty eliminating nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East region.
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The appointment of Omar Hilale represents a testimony to the trust enjoyed by Morocco within the United Nations and among Middle Eastern countries.
Great expectations rest on the Moroccan presidency to instill a new dynamic, capable of allowing this vital process to carry out its work in a transparent, open, inclusive and action-oriented manner.
For the ambassador, the upcoming sessions of the Middle East conference represent a glimmer of hope and a new opportunity to continue discussions to accelerate the establishment of a peaceful zone in the region, he said after his election.
Strengthening confidence-building measures
He specified that the laudable efforts of the Member States and observers of the Conference must be reinforced by acts of “good faith» aimed at strengthening confidence-building measures and resolving common technical challenges, so that actions are operational and effective.
And this, in particular with regard to the preservation of the gains made and the strengthening of regional cooperation between Member States following the ratification, in the years to come, of the treaty decreeing a zone free of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
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The UN Secretary General, through his spokesperson, congratulated Morocco on its election and sent it his best wishes for success.
Omar Hilale has over 30 years of direct experience within the United Nations. He chaired the first committee of the General Assembly responsible for disarmament and international security in 2021. He chaired the disarmament conference in 2004, in Geneva.
He also represented Morocco within the international committee of legal experts responsible for the application of the convention prohibiting the use of chemical weapons in 1993.
Par Le360 (with MAP)
11/26/2024 at 9:55 a.m.
