Egypt links nuclear treaty to Israel

CAIRO, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Egypt said Saturday its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty depends on Israel signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Egypt's official Middle East News Agency, MENA, said that Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Ghait set this condition in a letter to the CNTB supervisor, Tibor Toth.

The agency said the minister insisted that Egypt's ratification of the test ban treaty "depends on regional and international developments, including Israel's joining the Non-Proliferation Treaty."

MENA said that Abul Ghait was responding to Toth's letter in which he sought Cairo's endorsement of the CNTB before its members are due to meet in New York next month.

The foreign minister said in his letter the "nuclear threat continues to threaten the region and all the countries, except Israel, have signed the NPT."

The NPT bans nuclear testing, while the CNTB prohibits developing nuclear weapons in new countries.