Diplomatic Editor of The Guardian, Julian Borger, wrote the following article on the planned 2012 Conference on a WMD-free zone in the Middle East and what it could bring to the region. Mr. Borger quotes Paul Ingram, who said: “When you start a process like this, with clear objectives, it is amazing how it evolves. The process itself builds confidence and improves the atmosphere. Also, ordinary Israelis now recognise that a zone free of nuclear weapons is preferable to a region with two or more weapons states.”
Programmes
Nuclear chief Blix allays any fear of disasters
An article in The National cites remarks from Hans Blix and Bahraini representative Abdullah Abdul Latif Abdullah regarding the different regional impacts of nuclear safety and Iran's Bushehr reactor. The remarks were made during BASIC's conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf.
Forget about the taxes row: if Osborne is serious about fiscal stability, he should wield the axe on Trident
Blake Ewing, editor of Politics in Spires, a blog by Oxford and Cambridge University, highlights some of the facts presented in the Trident Commission’s second report on the defence-industrial aspects of Trident, written by Professor Keith Hartley.
Hans Blix opens first day of nuclear non-proliferation conference in Qatar
Hans Blix delivered the keynote address for a BASIC conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf. The former chief U.N. weapons inspector for Iraq and chair of the WMD Commission warned of the dangers from nuclear weapons and material, and called for greater inter-governmental cooperation and transparency.
BASIC in Doha – Conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf
From March 21-22, 2012: BASIC organised a two-day conference at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, in association with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Media Release: Second BASIC Trident Commission Paper outlines the costs for individuals, communities and the economy from the options for Trident Renewal
The BASIC Trident Commission publishes its second discussion paper Wednesday 21 March on the defence industrial aspects of the forthcoming decision on Trident renewal, and in particular the construction of the next generation of SSBN nuclear submarines.
Defence-Industrial Issues: Employment, Skills, Technology and Regional Impacts
This second BASIC Trident Commission report focuses on issues around jobs, the maintenance of skills and technology and the regional economic concerns that will inevitably have an impact on political decisions.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf
On Wednesday and Thursday, BASIC is holding a timely conference in Doha, Qatar, on “Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf”. It comes the week before President Obama meets with world leaders in South Korea for the second Nuclear Security Summit of his presidency, and the month before the resumption of the diplomatic cycle culminating in the 2015 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.