LIBYA, IRAN, ISRAEL AND THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

Early day motion 442, tabled 15 January 2004 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 72 members.

That this House congratulates the Government for its sustained diplomatic efforts which have contributed to the decision by Libya to end its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes; commends the Government for making similar efforts which have encouraged Iran to sign an additional protocol allowing international inspections of its nuclear facilities; regards these positive developments as valuable confidence-building measures which will help the current peace negotiations in the Middle East; notes the recent statement by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed El Baradei, who used his interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz to call on Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state; and therefore urges the Government to work with the USA and other allies, to encourage Israel to respond positively to the moves by Libya and Iran by relinquishing its nuclear weapons in order to help achieve comprehensive nuclear disarmament in the Middle East.

Signatures by party: Labour 50, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 7, Conservative 1, Scottish National Party 1.