LONDON Ñ Representatives from nearly 90 countries began a conference on
Monday in the Hague on ways to implement a voluntary code to halt missile
proliferation.
The countries are expected to sign a document called the
International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
So far, however, major missile powers and exporters of missile technology to the Middle East have
not expressed interest in signing the code.
Organizers of the conference said missile powers in the Middle East will
be absent from the conference. They include Iran, Iraq, Israel and Syria.
Furthermore, missile exporters to the region Ñ such as China and North
Korea Ñ will also be absent. On Nov. 12, China said it would not sign
the code.
The European Union has led the effort to implement the code of conduct.
The code was meant to be an outgrowth of the Missile Technology Control
Regime, drafted in 1987 and which has 33 members.
Iran attended the first meeting in Paris earlier this year but withdrew from discussions before a second
session that was held in Madrid.
Iraq was not invited the parley. Organizers cited Baghdad's failure to
comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions to limit the range
of Iraqi missiles to 150 kilometers.
The signing will cap three years to draft the code of conduct and obtain
support from the international community. The code is meant to end the rise
in missile exports that can deliver weapons of mass destruction.
Many Middle East countries are not members of the MTCR. The regime bans
the export of missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers and a
payload of 500 kilograms.
The code calls for additional restraints beyond that of the MTCR in the
development, testing, deployment and proliferation of missiles. The draft
allows missile-related exports for countries that are conducting space
programs, but not if they can conceal ballistic missile projects.
Other terms of the code include the advance notice of missile launches
and a commitment to reduce missile arsenals.
Middle East states Ñ from Iran to Israel Ñ were
urged to join the efforts to draft a new code of conduct to control
the proliferation of ballistic missiles. Libya is expected to attend the conference.
