BAHRAIN called at a gathering in London for a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), for the sake of world peace.

The call came from Foreign Ministry Ambassador Saeed Al Faihani as he addressed a conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London's Centre For International Studies and Diplomacy.

The end of the Cold War with the demise of the Soviet Union had brought new threats, of which the proliferation of WMD - nuclear, chemical or biological - is a major fear, said Mr Al Faihani, the first Bahraini official to speak at SOAS.

"The international community fears weapons of mass destruction in particular because of their indiscriminate effects, which result in the killing and maiming of large number of civilians, widespread disruption of normal life, and the destruction of the economic infrastructure of states," he said.

"During the early years of the Cold War, the competition to acquire WMD was not particularly high in the Middle East, despite the efforts of a few regional powers to develop their nuclear capabilities.

"This trend did not persist, especially once the signs of the disintegration of the Soviet Union became apparent. More and more states felt the need to acquire such weapons."

These states fall into three categories, said Mr Al Faihani.

"The first category of states turned to expensive programmes for WMD, such as nuclear programmes," he said.

"The second category is states that turned to inexpensive WMD programmes, like chemical and biological programmes.

"The third category of states pursued both expensive and non-expensive WMD programmes.

"There are many reasons that states have pursued WMD programmes.

"Certain states wanted to play the role of regional powers and felt that WMD were the easiest way to attain that role.

"Certain states in the region felt insecure, due to historical hostilities with other states. Therefore, they needed a deterrent force that would prevent others from any aggressive acts.

"Certain regional states felt that the international resolve was weak because either the international regulatory mechanisms were unable to stop their WMD ambitions, or such mechanisms were not in place.

"Instability in the region convinced some countries to acquire WMD in order to preserve peace and security for their nationals;

"The rivalry between the traditional regional powers, geared up the competition to acquire WMD.

"The regional power vacuum left by the disintegration of the Soviet Union helped some states to start programmes for the production of WMD."

It is vital to put a regime in place in the Middle East to prevent the proliferation of WMD - and it applies to all - said Mr Al Faihani.

"The establishment of verifiable measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and technology, materials, and expertise related to such weapons, is vital to preventing such proliferation and all states of the region should be part of and should support such measures," he said.

"In the past, we have seen that certain states were left outside the international proliferation regimes, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency system, while powerful states tried to appease these states by not sanctioning them, nor trying to pressure them to be part of such a framework.

"These policies undermine the international anti-proliferation regimes and at the same time help other states to challenge the present system.

"Our goal should be to focus on devising a new regime for the Middle East region, while at the same time strengthening the existing international anti-proliferation framework.

"States should be responsible before the international community for their acts and for the consequences arising out of such acts.

"Hence, in order to have peace, security, and stability in the Middle East, the international community should work for the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the region.

"Such a zone should be established based on arrangements arrived at among regional states, should involve all countries within the geographical entity of the Middle East and should be established by a binding treaty.

"Moreover, the treaty should contain clear clauses on the prohibition of the development, manufacture, control, possession, testing, or transfer of weapons of mass destruction.

"The international community should also act in a deterrent manner to prevent the proliferation of WMD, with a strategy based on and part of, the international resolve to fight terrorism.

"At the same time, this strategy should take into account the humanitarian dimension, ensuring that the deterrent strategy avoids the suffering of peoples."

Bahrain is firmly against such proliferation, due to its conviction that weapons and wars cause only suffering and do not contribute in any way to peace, development and prosperity, said Mr Al Faihani.

But he said prevention had to be a global responsibility.

"It is a collective responsibility where the international community has the prime role to stop proliferation of WMD through enacting an effective framework," said Mr Al Faihani.

"At the same time, regional states have to share responsibility by adhering to such regimes and establishing WMD free zones.

"To have peace, security, and stability in the Middle East, its states have to co-operate and establish a WMD free zone.

"This will be possible only with the assistance of the international community, and in particular its most effective powers."