A/RES/39/59 GA

III. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the Fint Committee 63 39/59. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assembly, Inspired by the great prospects opening up before man­ kind as a result of man's entry into outer space, Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming that the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be car­ ried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific devel­ opment, and shall be the province of all mankind, Reaffirming further the will of all States that the explora­ tion and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be for peaceful purposes, Recalling that the States parties to the Treaty on Princi­ ples Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, 19 have undertaken, in article III, to carry on activities in the exploration and use c,f outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in accor­ dance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international co-operation and understanding, Reaffirming, in particular, article IV of the above-men­ tioned Treaty, which stipulates that States parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner, Reaffirming also paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,20 in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appro­ priate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty, Recalling its resolutions 36/97 C and 36/99 of9 Decem­ ber 1981, as well as resolutions 37/83 of 9 December 1982, 37/99 D of 13 December 1982, and 38/70 of 15 December 1983, Gravely concerned at the danger posed to all mankind by an arms race in outer space, in particular the impending danger of exacerbating the current state of insecurity by developments that could further undermine international peace and security, Mindful of the widespread interest expressed by Mem­ ber States in the course of the negotiations on and follow­ ing the adoption of the above-mentioned Treaty in ensur­ ing that the exploration and use of outer space should be for peaceful purposes, and taking note of proposals sub­ mitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session, and at its regular sessions and to the Conference on Dis­ armament, Noting the grave concern expressed by the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peace­ ful Uses of Outer Space over the extension of an arms race into outer space and the recommendations made to the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, and also to the Committee on Dis­ armament,2 1 Convinced that further measures are needed for the pre­ vention of an arms race in outer space, 19 Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 20 Resolution S-10/2. 21 See Report of the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Vienna, 9-21 August 1982 (A/CONF.101/ 10 and Corr.I and 2), paras. 13, 14 and 426. The Committee on Disarma- Recognizing that, in the context of multilateral negotia­ tions for preventing an arms race in outer space, bilateral negotiations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub­ lics and the United States of America could make a signifi­ cant contribution to such an objective, in accordance with paragraph 27 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session,20 Deeply regretting that bilateral negotiations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the prevention of an arms race in outer space have not taken place, Taking note of the report of the Conference on Disarma­ ment relating to this question, 22 Aware of the various proposals submitted by Member States to the Conference on Disarmament, particularly concerning the establishment of an ad hoe committee on the prevention of an arms race in outer space and its draft mandate, which had been considered extensively by a con­ tact group and through informal consultations and by for­ mal and informal meetings of the Conference on Disarma­ ment, Expressing its deep concern and disappointment that, although there was no objection, in principle, to the estab­ lishment without delay of such an ad hoe committee, the Conference on Disarmament has not thus far been enabled to reach agreement on a mandate for the ad hoe committee during its 1984 session, 1. Recalls the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat or use of force in their space activities; 2. Reaffirms that general and complete disarmament under effective international control warrants that outer space shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it shall not become an arena for an arms race; 3. Emphasizes that further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space should be adopted by the international community; 4. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and to take immediate measures to prevent an arms race in outer space in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international co-operation and understand­ ing; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agree­ ment or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; 6. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to con­ sider as a matter of priority the question of preventing an arms race in outer space; 7. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its consideration of the question of the preven­ tion of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, taking into account all relevant proposals, including those sub­ mitted at the thirty-ninth session of the General Assembly; 8. Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to establish an ad hoe committee at the beginning of its ses­ sion in 1985, with a view to undertaking negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement or agreements, as appro­ priate, to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects; ment was redesignated the Conference on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984. 22 Ojjic,al Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-ninth Session, Supple­ ment No. 27 (A/39/27). sect. 111.E. 64 General Assembly-Thirty-ninth Session 9. Urges the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America to initiate immediately and in a constructive spirit negotiations aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space and to advise the Conference on Disarmament regularly of the progress of their bilateral negotiations so as to facilitate its work; 10. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report on its consideration of this subject to the General Assembly at its fortieth session; 11. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this subject by the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session; 12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". 97th plenary meeting 12 December 1984 39/60. Implementation of General Assembly resolu­ tion 38/72 on the immediate cessation and prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests The General Assembly, Deeply concerned over the intensification of the nuclear­ arms race and the growing threat of nuclear war, Recalling that over the past thirty years the need for ces­ sation and prohibition of nuclear-weapon testing has been in the focus of attention of the General Assembly, Reaffirming its conviction that the conclusion of a multi­ lateral treaty on the prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests by all States would constitute an indispensable 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, Stressing once again that the elaboration of such a treaty is the task of the highest priority and should not be made dependent on the attainment of any other measure in the field of disarmament, Deeply deploring that the Conference on Disarmament has to date been prevented from carrying out negotiations with a view to reaching agreement on such a treaty, Recalling its previous resolutions on this subject, 1. Resolutely urges all States, and especially all nuclear-weapon States, to exert maximum efforts and exercise political will for the elaboration and conclusion, without any delay, of a multilateral treaty on the prohibi­ tion of nuclear-weapon tests by all States; 2. Urges the Conference on Disarmament to proceed promptly to negotiations with a view to elaborating such a treaty as a matter of the highest priority, taking into account all existing proposals and future initiatives, and, for that purpose, to establish an ad hoe committee with a negotiating mandate; 3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth session an item entitled "Implementation of Gen­ eral Assembly resolution 39/60 on the immediate cessa­ tion and prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests". 97th plenary meeting 12 December 1984 23 fbid., Twentieth Sessum. Annnes, agenda item 105. document A/597) 24 A/39/470. 39/61. Implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa A IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Denucleariza­ tion of Africa23 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) of24 November 1961, its earliest on the subject, as well as its resolutions 2033 (XX) of 3 December 1965, 31/69 of 10 December 1976, 32/81 of 12 December 1977, 33/63 of 14 December 1978, 34/76 A of 11 December 1979, 35/ 146 B of 12 December 1980, 36/86 B of9 December 1981, 37/74 A of9 Decem­ ber 1982 and 38/ I 81 A of 20 December 1983, in which it called upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon­ free zone, Recalling that in its resolution 33/63 it vigorously con­ demned any overt or covert attempt by South Africa to introduce nuclear weapons into the continent of Africa and demanded that South Africa refrain forthwith from con­ ducting any nuclear explosion in the continent of Africa or elsewhere, Taking note of the report of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research entitled "South Africa's nuclear capability", 24 undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat and in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, as well as the report of the Disarmament Commis­ sion,25 Expressing regret that, despite the threat South Africa's nuclear capability constitutes to international peace and security, in particular to the realization of the objective of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa, the Dis­ armament Commission has, once again, in 1984, failed to reach a consensus on this important item on its agenda, I. Strongly renews its call upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 2. Reaffirms that the implementation of the Declara­ tion on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity would be an important measure to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security; 3. Expresses once again its grave alarm at South Afri­ ca's possession and continued development of nuclear­ weapon capability; 4. Condemns South Africa's continued pursuit of a nuclear capability and all forms of nuclear collaboration by any State, corporation, institution or individual with the racist regime that enable it to frustrate the objective of the Declaration which seeks to keep Africa free from nuclear weapons; 5. Calls upon all States, corporations, institutions and individuals to desist from further collaboration with the racist regime that may enable it to frustrate the objective of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa; 25 Ofjiual Records ol 1hc General Assemh/r. Thmv-nuuh Se.rnon, Supp/e- 1>1t·nt Nn_ 42 (A, 39/42)

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