British News Agency

According to a statement by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary-General of the Ministry Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi said at the IAEA's 70th General Conference in Vienna that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons is a humanitarian responsibility and a moral imperative.

Al Hammadi called for strengthening mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. He stated that an attack or threat of attack against nuclear facilities covered by nuclear safeguards and used exclusively for peaceful purposes would threaten international peace and security.

Qatar also announced that it welcomed the removal of the issue concerning Syria's implementation of its IAEA safeguards agreement from the agenda of the IAEA Board of Governors. The statement said that a $600,000 support agreement had been signed through the Qatar Fund for Development to strengthen radiotherapy capacity in Syria under the IAEA's “Rays of Hope” initiative.