NETANYAHU CANCELS US NUCLEAR TRIP
Tert.am
10:01 09.04.10
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a visit to US where he
was to attend a summit on nuclear security, reports BBC News.
Netanyahu made the decision after learning that Egypt and Turkey
intended to raise the issue of Israel’s presumed nuclear arsenal,
media reports said.
US President Barack Obama is due to host dozens of world leaders at
the two-day conference, which begins in Washington on Monday.
Israel has never confirmed or denied that it possesses atomic weapons.
"The prime minister has decided to cancel his trip to Washington to
attend the nuclear conference next week, after learning that some
countries including Egypt and Turkey plan to say Israel must sign the
NPT," Reuters news agency quoted a senior Israeli official as saying.
Israel’s Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor will take
Netanyahu’s place in the nuclear summit, Israeli radio said. More than
40 countries are expected at the meeting among them also Armenia,
which will focus on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to
militant groups.
Israeli reports said there were concerns that Egypt and Turkey would
call for Israel to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Along with India, Pakistan and North Korea, Israel is one of just four
states that have not signed up to the NPT, which has 189 signatories.
Earlier this week, President Obama unveiled the new Nuclear Posture
Review – which narrows the circumstances in which the US would use
nuclear weapons – outlining his country’s long-term strategy of
nuclear disarmament.