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Several countries at different times proposed the creation in the Middle East of a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. The first initiative in this sense was the initiative of Iran in 1974, followed by Egypt, promoting a nuclear weapons free zone. The Mubarak Initiative of 1990 expanded the concept to a WMD free zone.  In the 1995 NPT Review Conference a specific Middle East resolution was approved and the final document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference referred to this resolution. All countries of the region have supported resolutions in the UN General Assembly on the creation of a zone free of weapons of mass destructions.  The concept was explored in subsequent studies by the UN and UNIDIR.  However up to now there has been no progress in the direction of creating such a zone.

It is recommended that, after the NPT Review Conference, a Special Representative (or Advisor) be appointed by the UN Secretary General [as recommended by the NPT Review Conference of States Parties], to be supported by a [committee, advisory board, commission], for the problem of establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East with the mandate of:

1. Defining the framework and understanding the conditions under which concrete progress and practical steps towards the establishment of such a zone could be made.
   
   
2. Proposing the sequence of the necessary steps towards the establishment of such a zone.
   
   
3. Proposing a series of meetings and conferences aimed at defining precisely such practical steps. In this the Special Representative (or Advisor) could also facilitate a synergy between the so called Track-2 discussions and subsequent official negotiations.
   
   
4. Preparing a larger UN Conference aimed at defining the general negotiating pattern for the establishment of a Middle Eastern zone free of Weapons of Mass Destruction and of Nuclear Weapons in particular
   
   
5. Facilitating negotiations aimed at implementing any interim practical steps.

The Special Representative (or Advisor) should establish a Committee (alternatives: Advisory Board, Commission) composed of officials and experts from Middle Eastern countries and relevant international organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the African Union besides the UN, and also from the P5 and other countries as appropriate.  This Committee should work in a cooperative way to help the Special Representative (or Advisor) in performing the above defined mandate.  The Special Representative (or Advisor) should also be in position to organize specific technical meetings, possibly with the assistance of such international organization as the IAEA, the CTBTO, the OPCW, etc.

The Special Representative (or Advisor) and the Committee should in particular understand the concerns and collect the suggestions of individual States and concerned institutions from the civil societies of Middle Eastern countries. It is recommended that all countries that participate in the Committee facilitate the entry of the members of the Committee in their territory for the said purpose of understanding the concerns and collect the suggestions of each individual State.

The Special Representative (or Advisor) shall submit at least every six months progress reports on his or her activities, on the work of the Committee and on the relevant findings to the UN Secretary General. These reports should be made available to the interested States and the NPT Preparatory Committees. The Special Representative (or Advisor) shall be assisted by a small, but highly qualified staff.

For the financial support of the activity of the Special Representative (or Advisor) and the Committee, it is proposed the establishment of a UN administered fund supported by member states, on a voluntary basis.