United States Congress, led by Senator Robert Dole. The establishment of such a zone in the Middle East is the only way to put an end to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in that region and to ensure its security and stability. Furthermore, that would release huge financial resources, thereby enabling the countries of the region to overcome their economic difficulties, to develop their natural resources and to contribute to the solution of problems affecting the world economy. BCT/sm A/S-18/PV.6 9 (Mr. Al-Zahawie, Iraq) Those countries that wish to reaffirm the Prohibition of chemical weapons alone or call for the destruction of such weapans, while excepting nuclear weapons in the reqion, take an unjust position which ensures that only Israel can acquire weaPOns of destruction. Those weaPOns would enable it to persist in its policies of expansion and aqqression aqainst the Palestinian and Arab people and to continue to annex occupied Arab territories and expel their papulation, in &fiance of the entire international community, thereby posing a threat to the peace and security of the reqion and the world. Before concludi nq, I wish to refer to the fact that all the Arab economies have been adversely affected by the deterioration in world economic conditions. The extent of such an effect has varied accordinq to the degree of development of their economic structures, their export situation and the measure of their dePendence on the outside world. Among the major external factors that have made themselves felt on the economic situation in the Arab world has been the fall in the price of oil. the concomitant drop in oil revenues, the fluctuations in the rates of exchanqe, the deterioration in the terms of trade and the collapse of commodity prices.. As a result of such influences, economic qrowth was extremely slow in the 198(5 compared to the 1970s. 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic situation of Arab countries and its relation to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. It highlights the impact of external factors such as the fall in oil prices, fluctuations in exchange rates, and collapse of commodity prices on the economic growth of these countries. The text also touches on the theme of security and stability in the region.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade