The 54th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference opened in Vienna today. During the five-day conference, implementation of safeguards in the middle east, especially Israel's nuclear capabilities is expected to come up during general debate. In the opening statement of the conference, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said no progress had been achieved on the development of model safeguards agreements towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the middle east. At last year's General Conference, an Arab nations-supported resolution was passed calling for Israel to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and putting all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive safeguards of IAEA. However, according to sources, the US and its allies have been trying to block the resolution being adopted again this year, on the grounds that talk of Israeli nuclear issue could jeopardise newly-launched Middle East peace talks.