Policy Paper 04: Workshop on Arms Control and Security in the Middle East

Abstract

The Workshop on Arms Control and Security in the Middle East, sponsored by the University of California's Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, was a private and unofficial symposium intended to promote dialogue on arms control in the Middle East. It also provided information on and explored the applicability of the U.S–Soviet arms control experience. Due to the historic distrust among the parties in the Middle East, the workshop emphasized technical procedural measures that might be implemented to reduce uncertainty and increase transparency and information, thereby ameliorating, although not eliminating, suspicions. Special attention was paid to methods of reducing the likelihood of inadvertent war brought on by tensions, crises, misperception, and escalation. It was recognized that although technical measures cannot overcome political differences, they can facilitate political agreements by reducing the risks such agreements might entail.