43 nations agree to work toward zone free of weapons of WMDs in Mideast

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
More than 40 nations have agreed to help create a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. A final declaration from a summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean says the members will "pursue a mutually and effectively verifiable Middle East Zone free of weapons of mass destruction." The statement says that includes nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as their delivery systems. The statement at Sunday's summit says the countries will "consider practical steps to prevent the proliferation" of such weapons. Leaders at the summit included those from Israel, Syria and countries across North Africa and Europe.