Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, has been elected to preside over the 6th session of the UN Conference on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Middle East, scheduled for 2025.
The decision, made by acclamation, testifies Morocco’s diplomatic credibility and Hilale’s extensive experience in international negotiations.
The conference, established under a 2018 UN General Assembly resolution, aims to create a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
This initiative builds on the 1995 resolution tied to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Sessions began in 2019 and have continued annually, except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hilale, a seasoned diplomat, has represented Morocco at the UN in New York since 2014, following his tenure in Geneva.
His election comes at a critical time as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensify, raising concerns over nuclear proliferation and the faltering progress on global disarmament commitments.
As president of the conference, Hilale is expected to steer negotiations toward a legally binding treaty aimed at eliminating nuclear and other mass destruction weapons from the region.
His leadership will focus on fostering trust, advancing transparency, and ensuring inclusivity among member states.
In his acceptance remarks, Hilale described the upcoming conference sessions as “a beacon of hope,” expressing the urgency of collective action to establish a nuclear-free zone.
He called for sustained confidence-building measures and technical collaboration, urging all stakeholders to act in good faith to overcome regional challenges and strengthen disarmament efforts.
Hilale’s role reflects Morocco’s longstanding commitment to global security initiatives.
He previously chaired the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security in 2021 and led the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva in 2004.
His extensive track record includes participation in the International Legal Experts Committee on implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The UN Secretary-General congratulated Morocco for its election, expressing confidence in Hilale’s ability to advance the conference’s goals and drive progress in addressing one of the region’s most pressing security challenges.
Hilale’s leadership is seen as an opportunity to reinvigorate stalled discussions and promote regional stability, a crucial step toward the long-sought goal of a nuclear-weapon-free Middle East.
