Finland will host the conference next year on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, it was announced today at the United Nations. Jaakko Laajava, Under-Secretary of State in Finland’s foreign ministry, has been appointed as the facilitator for the 2012 conference. US, Russia, UK & UN as Sponsors: The announcement was made in a joint press statement issued by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – the co-sponsors of a 1995 resolution proposing a Middle East free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction – in consultation with States of the region. The May 2010 review meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) – which takes place every five years – called for a UN-sponsored conference in 2012 to establish a nuclear-free Middle East to be attended by all States in the region. Ahead of the 2010 meeting, Mr. Ban had called for the number of nuclear-weapon-free zones to multiply and ultimately span the globe. “My goal – our goal – is to make the whole world a nuclear-weapon-free zone,” he stated, calling such zones the “success stories of the disarmament movement.” There are now 5 such zones: Latin America and the Caribbean; the South Pacific; South-East Asia; Central Asia; and Africa. FILM REPORT: "Michael Douglas Returns-Petition no Nukes" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/michael-douglas-returns-petition-no-nukes/25893 FILM REPORT: "2010 UN Review/Nuclear Disarmament" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/2010-reviewun/23850 By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook = Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX War Crimes Justice Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/war-crimes-justice