Cairo: The 61st meeting of the Arab Senior Officials Committee on Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction commenced today at the Arab League headquarters, with discussions scheduled to continue over the next three days.

According to Qatar News Agency, in his opening remarks, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the International Political Affairs Sector at the Arab League, Ambassador Dr. Khalid bin Mohammad Al Manzalawi, outlined the agenda items that are of significant importance to Arab nations concerning arms control and disarmament. These agenda items include preparations and coordination of Arab positions for the upcoming 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the third preparatory meeting for the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and a conference aimed at establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

Dr. Al Manzalawi underscored the pivotal role of the Senior Officials Committee, which remains the sole technical body within the Arab League focused on addressing weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the committee has been instrumental in monitoring Israel's nuclear capabilities and in developing unified Arab positions on disarmament and non-proliferation at international forums.