Please note: the following are draft discussion points.  They are not comprehensive, and others are free to add additional suggestions.

 

Topics to be discussed:

1. Do NW and WMD enhance the security of individual states or do they contribute to a more insecure environment in the Middle East?  If the distribution of NW and WMD in the Middle East is uneven (with have and have-not states) how is this unevenness likely to be readdressed?
   
   
2. Do we need to consider some necessary conditions in the area of regional security that would allow the reduction and the elimination of NW and WMD and the signing of the relevant arms control treaties? What are these preconditions in detail?
   
   
3. What progressive path for the elimination of NW and WMD in the Middle East could be designed or, in other words, what kind of intermediate steps could be taken?
   
   
4. How could dialogue and communications in the ME about NW& WMD and the relevant concerns be carried on? How will this dialogue relate to the other many open questions affecting the Middle East?
   
   
5. The last NPT Review Conference discussed the issue of a zone free of NW and other WMD in the Middle East and proposed an international conference in 2012. What are the recommendations that could help to proceed concretely in that direction?
   
   
6. Will a treaty forbidding the (first) use of nuclear weapons be useful (open to all States?)

The goal of the meeting is to think outside the box and provide ideas for the future. While we understand that the long history of the discussions over the issue of NW & WMD in the Middle East has created many entangled argumentations and possibly justified recriminations, we would be most interested in exploring possible ways of moving forward.

Appendix 3

Excerpt from “2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons -- Final Document

IV. The Middle East, particularly implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East[4]

1. The Conference reaffirms the importance of the Resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference and recalls the affirmation of its goals and objectives by the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The Conference stresses that the resolution remains valid until the goals and objectives are achieved. The resolution, which was co-sponsored by the depositary States of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America), is an essential element of the outcome of the 1995 Conference and of the basis on which the Treaty was indefinitely extended without a vote in 1995. States parties renew their resolve to undertake, individually and collectively, all necessary measures aimed at its prompt implementation.
   
   
2. The Conference reaffirms its endorsement of the aims and objectives of the Middle East peace process, and recognizes that efforts in this regard, as well as other efforts, contribute to, inter alia, a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction.
   
   
3. The Conference takes note of the reaffirmation at the 2010 Review Conference by the five nuclear-weapon States of their commitment to a full implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.
   
   
4. The Conference regrets that little progress has been achieved towards the implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East.
   
   
5. The Conference recalls the reaffirmation by the 2000 Review Conference of the importance of Israel’s accession to the Treaty and the placement of all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards. The Conference reaffirms the urgency and importance of achieving universality of the Treaty. The Conference calls on all States in the Middle East that have not yet done so to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States so as to achieve its universality at an early date.
   
   
6. The Conference stresses the necessity of strict adherence by all States parties to their obligations and commitments under the Treaty. The Conference urges all States in the region to take relevant steps and confidence-building measures to contribute to the realization of the objectives of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East and calls upon all States to refrain from undertaking any measures that preclude the achievement of this objective.
   
   
7. The Conference emphasizes the importance of a process leading to full implementation of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East. To that end, the Conference endorses the following practical steps:
   
   (a) The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, will convene a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the Middle East, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at by the States of the region, and with the full support and engagement of the nuclear-weapon States.  The 2012 Conference shall take as its terms of reference the 1995 Resolution;
   
   (b) Appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, of a facilitator, with a mandate to support implementation of the 1995 Resolution by conducting consultations with the States of the region in that regard and undertaking preparations for the convening of the 2012 Conference. The facilitator will also assist in implementation of follow-on steps agreed by the participating regional States at the 2012 Conference. The facilitator will report to the 2015 Review Conference and its Preparatory Committee meetings;
   
   (c) Designation by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution, in consultation with the States of the region, of a host Government for the 2012 Conference;
   
   (d) Additional steps aimed at supporting the implementation of the 1995 Resolution, including that IAEA, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and other relevant international organizations be requested to prepare background documentation for the 2012 Conference regarding modalities for a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, taking into account work previously undertaken and experience gained;
   
   (e) Consideration of all offers aimed at supporting the implementation of the 1995 Resolution, including the offer of the European Union to host a follow-on seminar to that organized in June 2008.
   
   
8. The Conference emphasizes the requirement of maintaining parallel progress, in substance and timing, in the process leading to achieving total and complete elimination of all weapons of mass destruction in the region, nuclear, chemical and biological.
   
   
9. The Conference reaffirms that all States parties to the Treaty, particularly the nuclear-weapon States and the States in the region, should continue to report on steps taken to implement the 1995 Resolution, through the United Nations Secretariat, to the President of the 2015 Review Conference, as well as to the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee meetings to be held in advance of that Conference.
   
   
10. The Conference further recognizes the important role played by civil society in contributing to the implementation of the 1995 Resolution and encourages all efforts in this regard.

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