A/RES/37/73 GA

54 General Assembly-Thirty-seventh Session reiterated with special emphasis the opinion fie had ex - pressed nine years earlier and, after specifically referring to it, added: "I still hold that belief. The problem can and should be solved now", Noting that in the same report, which was prepared in compliance with General Assembly decision 34/422 of 11 December 1979, the experts emphasized that non­ nuclear-weapon States in general had come to regard the achievement of a comprehensive test ban as a litmus test of the determination of the nuclear-weapon States to halt the arms race, adding that verification of compliance no longer seemed to be an obstacle to reaching agreement, Taking into account that the three nuclear-weapon States which act as depositaries of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water' undertook in that Treaty, almost twenty years ago, to seek the achievement of the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time and that such an undertaking was explicitly reiterated in 1968 in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,9 Deploring that neither the Committee on Disarmament nor the General Assembly at its twelfth special session have been able to elaborate a comprehensive test-ban treaty, 1. Reiterates once again its grave concern that, despite the express wishes of the overwhelming majority of Member States, nuclear-weapon testing continues unabated; 2. Reaffirms its conviction that a treaty to achieve the prohibition of all nuclear-test explosions by all States for all time is a matter of the highest priority and constitutes a vital element for the success of efforts to prevent both ver­ tical and horizontal proliferation of nuclear weapons and a contribution to nuclear disarmament; 3. Urges all States that have not yet done so to adhere without further delay to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water and, meanwhile, to refrain from testing in the environments covered by that Treaty; 4. Urges also the three original parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water to abide strictly by the undertakings contained therein to seek ''to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time' ' and '• to continue negotiations to this end"; 5. Urges likewise all States members of the Committee on Disarmament: (a) To bear in mind that, if the consensus rule should not be used in such a manner as to prevent the establishment of subsidiary bodies for the effective discharge of the func­ tions of the Committee, neither should it be used to prevent the approval of appropriate mandates for such subsidiary bodies; (!,) To assign to the Ad Hoe Working Group under item 1 of its agenda, entitled • 'Nuclear-test ban'', established on 21 AJ>.ril 1982 by the Committee, 10 a mandate which should provide for the muftilateral negotiation of a treaty for the prohibition of all nuclear-weapon tests, to be initiated im­ mediately after the beginning of the session of the Com­ mittee to be held in 1983; (c) To exert their best endeavours in order that the Com­ mittee may transmit to the General Assembly at its thirty­ eighth session the multilaterally negotiated text of such a treaty; • United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 480, No. 6964, p. 43. 9 Resolution 2373 (XXII), annex. '° See Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/37/27 and Corr. I), para. 39. 6. Calls upon the States depositaries of the Treaty Ban­ ning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water and the Treaty on the Non-Prolif­ eration of Nuclear Weapons, by virtue of their special re­ sponsibilities under those two treaties and as a provisional measure, to bring to a halt without delay all nuclear-test explosions, either through a trilaterally agreed moratorium or through three unilateral moratoriums; 7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth session the item entitled "Cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons". 98th plenary meeting 9 December I 982 37/73. Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test­ ban treaty The General Assembly, Convinced of the urgent need for the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty capable of attracting the widest possible international support and adherence, Reaffirming its conviction that an end to nuclear-weapon testing by all States in all environments would be a major step towards ending the qualitative improvement, devel­ opment and proliferation of nuclear weapons, a means of relieving the deep appȏhension concerning the harmful con­ sequences of radioactive contamination for the health of present and future generations and a measure of the utmost importance in bringing the nuclear-arms race to an end, Recalling that the parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water' undertook not to carry out any nuclear-weapon-test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, in the environ­ ments covered by that Treaty, and that in that Treaty and in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons9 the parties expressed their determination to continue ne­ gotiations to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time, Recalling also its previous resolutions on this subject, Recognizing the indispensable role of the Committee on Disarmament in the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear­ test-ban treaty, Taking into account that part of the report of the Com­ mittee on Disarmament concerning consideration of the item entitled "Nuclear-test ban" during its session in 1982, 1 1 Convinced that the Committee on Disarmament should commence negotiations on such a treaty at the earliest pos­ sible date, Recognizing the importance to such a treaty of the work assigned by the Committee on Disarmament to the Ad Hoe Group of Scientific Experts to Consider International Co­ operative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events on a global network of stations for the exchange of seis­ mol(?gical data, Stressing the importance of further efforts by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of Amer­ ica to facilitate the conclusion of such a treaty, 1. Reiterates its grave concern that, despite the express wishes of the overwhelming majority of Member States, nuclear-weapon testing continues unabated; 2. Reaffirms its conviction that a treaty to achieve the prohibition of all nuclear-test explosions by all States for all time is a matter of the greatest urgency and highest priority; 11 Ibid., Supplement No. 27 (A/37/27 and Corr. I), sect. III.A. Ill. Raolutions adopted on the reports of the First Committee _ 3. Expresses the conviction that such a treaty would constitute a vital element for the success of efforts to halt and reverse the nuclear-anns race and the qualitative im­ provement of nuclear weapons, and to prevent the expansion of existing nuclear arsenals and the spread of nuclear weap­ ons to additional countries; 4. Notes that the Committee on Disarmament, in the exercise of its responsibilities as the multilateral disanna­ ment negotiating forum, established on 21 April 1982 12 an Ad Hoe Working Group under item 1 of its agenda, entitled "Nuclear-test ban", and, considering that discussion of spe­ cific issues in the first instance might facilitate progress towards negotiation of a nuclear-test ban, requested the Ad Hoe Working Group: (a) To discuss and define, through substantive exami­ nation, issues relating to verification and compliance, with a view to making further progress towards a nuclear-test ban; (b) To take into account all existing proposals and future initiatives and report to the Committee on the progress of its work before the conclusion of the session in 1982; 5. Also notes that the Committee on Disarmament agreed that it would thereafter take a decision on subsequent courses of action with a view to fulfilling its responsibilities in this regard; 6. Further notes that the Ad Hoe Working Group has initiated consideration of the issues under its mandate; 7. Requests the Committee on Disannament to continue the consideration of those issues and to take the necessary steps to initiate substantive negotiations in order that the draft of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty may be submitted to the General Assembly at the earliest possible date; 8. Urges all members of the Committee on Disarma­ ment, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, to co-operate with the Committee in fulfilling these tasks; 9. Also requests the Committee on Disannament to de­ termine, in the context of its negotiations on such a treaty, the institutional and administrative arrangements necessary for establishing, testing and operating an international seis­ mic monitoring network and an effective verification system; I 0. Calls upon the Committee on Disarmament to report on progress to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session; l l . Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth session an item entitled "Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty''. 98th plenary meeting 9 December 1982 37n4. Implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa A IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa 13 adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its first ordinary session, held at Cairo from 17 to 21 July 1964, Recalling resolution 1652 (XVI) of 24 November 1961, its earliest on the subject, as well as resolutions 32/81 of 12 Ibid., para. 39. "Ibid .. Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 105, document A/5975. 12 December 1977, 33/63 of 14 December 1978, 34/76 A of 11 December 1979, 35/ 146 B of 12 December 1980 and 36/86 B of 9 December 1981, in which it called upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, in particular resolution 33/63 in which it vigorously condemned any overt or covert attempt by South Africa to introduce nuclear weapons into the continent, Noting with concern that South Africa's continued pursuit of a nuclear-weapon capability seriously jeopardizes the realization of the objective of a denuclearized Africa and poses a grave danger not only to the security of African States but also to international peace and security, Taking note of the report of the Security Council Com­ mittee established by resolution 421 (1977) concerning the question of South Africa on ways and means of making the mandatory arms embargo against South Africa more effec­ tive, 14 in particular its recommendation that all forms of nuclear collaboration with South Africa should cease, Expressing its indignation that certain Western States and Israel have, in flagrant and defiant violation of its relevant resolutions and in utter disregard of international concern on the subject, continued to collaborate with South Africa in the nuclear field, despite the risk and danger of prolif­ eration of nuclear weapons which the nuclear programme of the racist regime represents and poses to the legitimate right of African States to live in peace within secure borders, Recalling its decision, contained in the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disannament, that the Se­ curity Council should take appropriate steps to prevent the frustration of the objective of the Organization of African Unity for the denuclearization of Africa, 15 Recalling that in the Final Document it noted that the accumulation of annaments and the acquisition of anna­ ments technology by racist regimes, as well as their possible acquisition of nuclear weapons, present a chalJenging and an increasingly dangerous obstacle to a world community faced with the urgent need to disarm, 16 l. Once again reiterates its call upon all States to con­ sider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 2. Condemns all forms of nuclear collaboration by any State, corporation, institution or individual with the racist regime of South Africa since such collaboration enables it to frustrate, inter alia, the objective of the DecJaration on the Denuclearization of Africa which seeks to keep Africa free from nucJear weapons; 3. Calls upon all States, corporations, institutions and individuals to terminate forthwith all military and nuclear colJaboration with the racist regime of South Africa, in­ cJuding the provision to it of such related dual-purpose ma­ terials as computers, electronic equipment and related technology; 4. Requests the Security Council, for the purposes of disannament, to take enforcement measures, through strict adherence by all States to its relevant decisions, to prevent any racist regimes from acquiring any anns or arms technology; 5. Requests the Security Council in this connection to concJude expeditiously its consideration of the recommen­ dations of its Committee established by resolution 421 ( 1977) concerning the question of South Africa with a view to 14 Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-fifth Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1980, document S/14179. "Resolution S-10/2, para. 63 (c). 16 Ibid .. para. 12.

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