A/RES/31/70 GA

III. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the First Committee 35 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974 and 3471 (XXX) of 11 December 197 5, in which it called upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa, includ- ing the continental African States, Madagascar and other islands surrounding Africa, as a nuclear-weapon- free zone, Recognizing that implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in 196423 would con- tribute to the security of all the African States and to the goals of general and complete disarmament, Bearing in mind that the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirteenth ordinary session, held at Port Louis from 2 to 6 July 1976, expressed grave con~ern over the continuing collaboration between cert~m ~t~tes Members of the United Nations and the racist regime of South Africa, particularly in the military and nuclear fields, thereby enabling it to acquire nuclear-weapon capability, Concerned that further development of South Africa's military and nuclear-weapon potential would _frustr~te efforts to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones m Afnca and elsewhere as an effective means for preventing the proliferation, both horizontal and ver~ic~l, ?f nuclear weapons and for contributing to the ehmmatlon of the danger of a nuclear holocaust, l. Reaffirms its call upon all States to respect and abide by the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa; 2. Further reaffirms its call upon all States to con- sider and respect the continent of Africa, including ~e continental African States, Madagascar and other IS- lands surrounding Africa, as a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 3. Appeals to all States not to deliver to South Africa or place at its disposal any e9uipment or fissio!l- able material or technology that will enable the racist regime of South Africa to acquire nuclear-weapon cap- ability; 4. Requests the Secretary-General to render all nec- essary assistance to the Organization of African Unity towards the realization of its solemn Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa, in which the African Heads of State and Government announced their read- iness to undertake, in an international treaty to be con- cluded under the auspices of the United Nations, not to manufacture or acquire control of nuclear weapons; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-second session the item entitled "Implementa- tion of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa". 96th plenary meeting 10 December 1976 31/70. Comprehensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones in all its as- pects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3261 F (XXIX) of 9 De- cember 1974, by which it decided to undertake a corn- 2s Ibid., Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 105, doc- wnent A/5975. prchensive study of the question of nuclear-weapon- free zones in all its aspects, Recalling further its resolution 34 72 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, by which it, inter alia, commended the special report containing the comprehensive study24 to the attention of all Governments, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other relevant international organizations and invited them to transmit to the Secretary-General before 30 June 1976 such views, observations and suggestions on the special report as they might deem appropriate, Having considered the special report of the Confer- ence of the Committee on Disarmament containing the comprehensive study of the question of nuclear- weapon-free zones in all its aspects prepared by the Ad Hoe Group of Qualified Governmental Experts for the Study of the Question of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones,:!4 Having noted the comments made by States members of the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament concerning the study,25 Considering that the question of nuclear-weapon-free zones is included in the provisional agenda of the Con- ference of the Committee on Disarmament as adopted on 15 August 1968, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General containing the views, observations and suggestions on the special report by Governments, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Agency for the Pro- hibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America;26 2. Expresses once more its appreciation to the Ad Hoe Group of Qualified Governmental Experts for the Study of the Question of Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones for the preparation of the study and conveys its thanks to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and other relevant international organizations for the assistance they have given for the preparation of the study; 3. Reiterates its conviction that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones can contribute to the security of members of such zones, to the prevention of proliferation of nuclear weapons and to the goals of general and complete disarmament; 4. Draws the attention of Governments to the com- prehensive study and the views, observations and sug- gestions on that study contained in the report of the Secretary-General; 5. Expresses the hope that the comprehensive study and the views, observations and suggestions on that study will enhance further efforts of Governments con- cerning nuclear-weapon-free zones and will be of assist- ance to States interested in the establishment of such zones; 6. Conveys the comprehensive study and the re- port of the Secretary-General to the Governments con- cerned, to interested international organizations and to the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament for the further consideration and measures that they may 24 Ibid., Thirtieth Session, Supplement No. 27 A (A/10027 / Add.I). annex I. 25 Ibid., annex II. 26 A/3 l /189 and Add.1 and '.!. 36 Geom-al Assembly-Thirty-first Session deem appropriate within their respective fields of com- petence. 96th plenary meeting 10 December 1976 31/71. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3263 (XXIX) of 9 Decem- ber 1974, in which it overwhelmingly commended the idea of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also its resolution 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975 in which it recognized that the estab- lishment of a n~clear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East enjoys wide support in the region, Mindful of the prevailing political situation in the region and the potential danger emanating therefrom that would be further aggravated by the introduction of nuclear weapons in the area, Concerned that the lack of any appreciable progress in the direction of the establishment of a nuclear- weapon-free zone, in the present atmosphere in the region, will further complicate the situation, Convinced that progress towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East will greatly enhance the cause of peace both in the region and in the world, Conscious of the particular nature of the problems involved and the complexities inherent in the situation in the Middle East, and the urgency of keeping the region free from involvement in a ruinous nuclear-arms race, 1. Expresses the need for further action to generate momentum towards realization of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East; 2. Urges all parties directly concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons27 as a means of promoting this objective; 3. Reiterates its recommendation that the Member States referred to in paragraph 2 above, pending the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone under an effective system of safeguards, should: (a) Proclaim solemnly and immediately their in- tention to refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from produc- ing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from per- mitting the stationing of nuclear weapons in their ter- ritory or the territory under their control by any third party; ( b) Refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from any other action that would facilitate the acquisition, testing or use of such weapons, or would be in any other way detrimental to the objective of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region under an ef- fective system of safeguards; ( c) Agree to place all their nuclear activities under the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 4. Reaffirms the recommendations to the nuclear- weapon States to refrain from any action contrary to 27 Resolution 23 73 ( XXII) , annex. the purpose of the present resolution and the objective of establishing, in the region of the Middle East, a nuclear-weapon-free zone under an effective system of safeguards and to extend their co-operation to the States of the region in their efforts to promote this objective; 5. Invites the Secretary-General to explore the pos- sibilities of making progress towards the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the area of the Middle East; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-second session the item entitled "Establish- ment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East". 31/72. 96th plenary meeting 10 December 1976 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environ- mental Modification Techniques The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3264 (XXIX) of 9 Decem- ber 1974 and 3475 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, Recalling its resolution 1722 (XVI) of 20 December 1961, in which it recognized that all States have a deep interest in disarmament and arms control negotiations, Determined to avert the potential dangers of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques, Convinced that broad adherence to a convention on the prohibition of such action would contribute to the cause of strengthening peace and averting the threat of war, Noting with satisfaction that the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament has completed and trans- mitted to the General Assembly, in the report on its work in 1976,28 the text of a draft Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, 29 Noting further that the Convention is intended to prohibit effectively military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to eliminate the dangers to mankind from such use, Bearing in mind that draft agreements on disarma- ment and arms control measures submitted to the General Assembly by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament should be the result of a process of effective negotiations, and that such instruments should duly take into account the views and interests of all States so that they can be adhered to by the widest possible number of countries, Bearing in mind that article VIII of the Convention makes provision for a conference to review the opera- tion of the Convention five years after its entry into force, with a view to ensuring that its purposes and provisions are being realized, A !so bearing in mind all relevant documents and negotiating records of the Conference of the Committee 28 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Ses- sion, Supplement No. 27 (A/31/27). 29 Ibid., Supplement No. 27 (A/31/27), vol. I, annex I.

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