A/RES/39/53 GA

58 General Assembly-Thirty-ninth Session Weapons, held at Geneva from 5 to 30 May 1975 and from 11 August to 7 September 1980, respectively, Convinced that the maintenance of such a situation would not augur well for the third review conference of that Treaty, which is to take place from 22 April to 3 May 1985, and even for the future of the Treaty itself, Deploring that, due to the persistent obstruction of a very small number of its members, the Conference on Dis­ armament has been unable to initiate multilateral negotia­ tion of a treaty for the prohibition of all nuclear-weapon tests, as it was specifically requested to do in General Assembly resolution 38/62 of 15 December 1983, Noting that the Conference on Disarmament has already received various concrete proposals on this question, including a complete draft for the eventual text of the treaty as a whole, l. Reiterates, for the eighth time, its strongest condem­ nation of all nuclear-weapon tests; 2. Reiterates also once again its grave concern that nuclear-weapon testing continues unabated, against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Member States; 3. 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; 4. Reaffirms also its conviction that such a treaty would constitute a contribution of the utmost importance to the cessation of the nuclear-arms race and an indispensable element for the success of the Treaty on the Non-Prolifera­ tion of Nuclear Weapons, since it is only through the fulfil­ ment of the obligations under the Treaty that its three depositary Powers may expect all other parties to comply likewise with their respective obligations; 5. Urges once more the three depositary Powers of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water and of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to abide strictly by their undertakings to seek to achieve the early discontinu­ ance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time and to expedite negotiations to this end; 6. Urges also all States that have not yet done so to adhere to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water and, mean­ while, to refrain from testing in the environments covered by that Treaty; 7. Reiterates its appeal to all States members of the Conference on Disarmament to initiate immediately the multilateral negotiation of a treaty for the prohibition of all nuclear-weapon tests and to exert their best endeavours in order that the Conference may transmit to the General Assembly at its fortieth session the complete draft of such a treaty; 8. 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 Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, by virtue of their spe­ cial responsibilities under those two Treaties and as a pro­ visional measure, to bring to a halt without delay all nuclear-test explosions, either through a trilaterally agreed moratorium or through three unilateral moratoria; 9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth session the item entitled "Cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons". 97th plenary meeting 12 December 198 4 6 Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-ninth Session, Supple­ ment No. 27 (A/39/27), sect. 111.A. 39/53. Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear­ test-ban treaty The General Assembly, Convinced of the urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty capable of attracting the widest possible international support and adherence, Reaffirming its conviction that an end to all nuclear test­ ing by all States in all environments for all time would be a major step towards ending the qualitative improvement, development and proliferation of nuclear weapons, a means of relieving the deep apprehension concerning the harmful consequences 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 Water3undertook not to carry out any nuclear­ weapon-test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion, in the environments covered by that Treaty, and that in that Treaty the parties expressed their determination to con­ tinue negotiations to achieve the discontinuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time, Recalling also that the parties to the Treaty on the Non­ Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons5recalled the determina­ tion expressed by the parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water in its preamble to seek to achieve the dis­ continuance of all test explosions of nuclear weapons for all time and to continue negotiations to this end, declaring their intention to achieve at the earliest possible date the cessation of the nuclear-arms race and to undertake effec­ tive measures in the direction of nuclear disarmament, Recalling further its previous resolutions on this subject, Taking into account that part of the report of the Con­ ference on Disarmament concerning consideration of the item entitled "Nuclear-test ban" during its session in 1984,6 Also taking into account relevant proposals and initia­ tives put forward in the Conference on Disarmament dur­ ing its session in 1984, Expressing its profound regret that, in spite of strenuous efforts, the Conference on Disarmament was unable to reach agreement on the re-establishment at its session in 1984 of an Ad H oc Committee under item 1 of its agenda, entitled "Nuclear-test ban", Recognizing the important role of the Conference on Disarmament in the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty, Recognizing the importance to such a treaty of the work on a global seismic detection network, assigned by the Conference on Disarmament to the Ad Hoe Group of Sci­ entific Experts to Consider International Co-operative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events, Recalling paragraph 31 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,7 relating to verification of disarmament and arms control agree­ ments, which stated that the form and modalities of the verification to be provided for in any specific agreement depend on, and should be determined by, the purposes, scope and nature of the agreement, 1. Reiterates its profound concern that, despite the express wishes of the majority of Member States, nuclear testing continues; 7 Resolution S-10 2. III. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the First Committee S9 2. Reaffirms its conviction that a treaty to achieve the prohibition of all nuclear-test explosions by all States in all environments for all time is a matter of greatest impor­ tance; 3. Expresses the conviction that such a treaty would constitute a vital element for the success of efforts to halt and reverse the nuclear-arms race and the qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons, and to prevent the expansion of existing nuclear arsenals and the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries; 4. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to establish at the beginning of its session in I 985 an Ad Hoe Commit­ tee under item 1 of its agenda, entitled "Nuclear-test ban" and (a) To resume immediately its substantive work relat­ ing to a comprehensive test ban, including the issue of scope as well as those of verification and compliance, with a view to the negotiation of a treaty on the subject; (b) Taking into account the work previously performed by and the results of the technical test being conducted by the Ad Hoe Group of Scientific Experts to Consider Inter­ national Co-operative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events, to take steps for the establishment as soon as possible of an international seismic monitoring net­ work: (i) to monitor nuclear explosions; (ii) to determine the capabilities of such a network for monitoring compliance with a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty; (c) To initiate detailed investigation of other measures to monitor and verify compliance with such a treaty, including an international network to monitor atmos­ pheric radioactivity; 5. Urges all members of the Conference on Disarma­ ment, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, to co-oper­ ate within the Conference in fulfilling these tasks; 6. Calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to report on progress to the General Assembly at its fortieth session; 1. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth session the item entitled "Urgent need for a com­ prehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty". 97th plenary meeting 12 December 1984 39/54. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 32 6 3 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974 , 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 197 6 , 32/82 of 12 December 1977 , 3 3/ 64 of 14 December 1978 , 34/77 of 11 December 1979 , 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 3 6/87 of9 December 1981 , 37/75 of9 December 1982 and 38/ 64 of 15 December 198 3 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Recalling also the recommendations for the establish­ ment of such a zone in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 6 3 , in particular paragraph 6 3 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the Gen­ eral Assembly,7 Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-men­ tioned resolutions, which call upon all parties directly con­ cerned to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to estab- s N39/472. lish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East and, pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that they will refrain, on a recip­ rocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third party, to agree to place all their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of the zone and deposit such declarations with the Security Council for consideration, as appropri­ ate, Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, Emphasizing further the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and secur­ ity, Desirous to build on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear­ weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,8 I. Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seri­ ously taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear­ weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;9 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Invites those countries, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with the relevant paragraph of the Final Docu­ ment of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assem­ bly, and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 4. Further invites those countries, pending the estab­ lishment of the zone, not to develop, produce, test or oth­ erwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices; 5. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and spirit of the present res­ olution; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of all concerned parties regarding the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session on the imple­ mentation of the present resolution; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth session the item entitled "Establishment of a 9 Resolution 2373 (XXII), annex.

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