New Russian initiative for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons

A Russian diplomat said that his country is considering launching an initiative aimed at making the Middle East a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, said: "Russia may put forward new initiatives on establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East."

Ulyanov stated that "the idea of establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East will remain on the international agenda until it is fully realized, and Russia may advance new initiatives on this matter if needed."

According to the Russian diplomat, "Israel strongly rejects the idea of joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but, at the same time, demands full compliance with the agreement from other countries in the region."