United Nations, Dec 24: The UN Security Council has lauded Libya's decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction but, at the insistence of Pakistan, dropped the sentence which would have described Tripoli's action as a model for others in the Middle East to follow. The statements, issued by the council of which Pakistan is one of the 10 non-permanent members, are based – unlike resolutions - on consensus and any member can block it.
Among other things, the original draft had said, "Libya's actions could become a model for others, especially in the Middle East, towards reversing the proliferation of WMD and means of delivery."
Pakistan, facing accusations of selling and bartering nuclear weapons know-how with several countries, did not want that sentence in the statement as, diplomats said, it felt it might apply to it also.
A Pakistani diplomat said his country insisted on the deletion of the sentence because of national concerns.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is conducting investigations whether Pakistani scientists had helped Iraq and North Korea to acquire know-how and machinery to enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons.
The consensus statement, read out by current council president ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria yesterday, said the members "warmly welcomed" Libya's announcement and its pledge to address international concerns regarding proliferation of the world's most dangerous and deadly arms. Bureau Report