Bush’s Mideast Disarmament Plan Draws Praise and Some Wariness
Egypt and the U.N. official in charge of nuclear disarmament Thursday welcomed President Bush’s proposal to curb the arms buildup in the Middle East by freezing nuclear weapons and eventually banning all missiles.
The Soviet Union and Japan praised the idea, announced by Bush on Wednesday. But China warily said it is studying the plan.
Bush’s proposed restraints on nuclear arms and materials would mainly affect Israel. The Jewish state is believed to be the only Mideast nation with nuclear-weapons capability. Iran’s state-run radio said Thursday that Bush’s plan is defective because it would leave Israel’s nuclear arsenal intact and contains no guarantees.
Japan welcomed the U.S. proposal, calling it “a courageous action on this difficult issue.”
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