Turkey welcomes Libya’s decision to eliminate WMDs

ANKARA (AA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Libya’s decision to eliminate its mass destruction weapons program was an important development with regard to international efforts to prevent proliferation of such weapons and their launchers. The ministry congratulated all sides of the decision.

A statement of Foreign Ministry said that after the U.N. Security Council lifted embargo imposed on Libya on September 12, 2003, Libya dissolved mass destruction weapons program and allowed itself to be inspected unconditionally. The statement said that it would contribute to Libya’s integration process with international society and stability of the region.

Recalling that Libya announced that it abandoned development of secret programs on making mass destruction weapons and it would open those programs to international inspection and it would limit its ballistic missile programs with standards foreseen in Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the statement said that it was considered an important development regarding international efforts to prevent proliferation of such weapons and their launchers.

It noted that Turkey was a party of all international agreements and arrangements on non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons and launchers and it considered prevention of proliferation of mass destruction weapons as a main factor of its national security policy. It added that Turkey has been underlining the vital importance that all countries should become party of those agreements and arrangements. It also noted Turkey has also been emphasizing the importance of implementing fully the provisions of those agreements with good intention.