A/RES/40/81 GA

bilities and obligations of the nuclear and non-nuclear Powers, Recalling also that the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in its Final Declarations adopted by consensus on 21 September 1985, expressed its deep regret that a comprehensive multilateral nuclear-test-ban treaty had not been concluded so far and called for the urgent negoti- ation and conclusion of such a treaty as a matter of the highest priority, Noting that article II of the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water provides a procedure for the consideration and eventual adoption of amendments to the Treaty by a conference of its parties, Recommends that States parties to the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and under Water carry out urgent consultations among themselves as to the advisability and most appropriate method of taking advantage of the provisions of its article II for the conversion of the partial nuclear-test-ban treaty into a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty. J 13th plenary meeting 1 2 December 198 5 40/81. 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 Water5 undertook 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 Weapons6 recalled 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 that 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, Noting that in the Final Declarations of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, regret was expres- sed that a comprehensive multilateral nuclear-test-ban treaty banning all nuclear tests by all States in all environ- ments for all time had not been concluded and that all nuclear-weapon States were called on to participate in the 9 O/f,cial Records of the <ienera/ Assem_ blv Fortieth Session, Supplement No. t'l (A/40/27 and Corr I). sect. Ill.A 67 urgent negotiation and conclus10n of such a treaty, as. a matter of the highest priority. in the Conference on Dis- armament, Recalling further its previous resolutions on this subject. Taking into account that part of the report of the Con- ference on Disarmament relating to consideration of the item entitled "Nuclear-test ban" during its session in 1985.9 Also taking into account relevant proposals and initia- tives put forward in the Conference on Disarmament during its session in 1985 and other proposals and actions advanced in 1985 concerning efforts to promote an end to nuclear testing, 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 1985 of an ad hoe committee under item I 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, 10 the first special session devoted to disarmament, relating to verifi- cation of disarmament and arms control agreements, which stated that the form and modalities of the verifica- tion to be provided for in any specific agreement depend on, and should be determined by, the purposes, scope and nature of the agreement, I Reiterates its profound concern that, despite the express wishes of the majority of Member States, nuclear testing continues; 2. Reaffirms its conviction that a treaty to achieve the prohibition ofall 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 1986 an ad hoe committee under item I of its agenda, entitled "Nuclear-test ban", to begin negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty in accordance with the following programme of work: (a) Scope: (i) Comprehensive ban on nuclear explosions in all environments; (ii) Question of nuclear explosions for peaceful pur- poses; '.'11 Verification: (i) Central importance of verification of a compre- hensive test ban; (ii) Factors affecting verification needs; (iii) Means for monitoring compliance: a. National technical means: 1 ° Resolution S- 101 2 68 General Assembly- Fortieth Session b. International seismic monitoring network: i. Determination of capabilities for moni- toring compliance; ii. Steps for establishment and improve- ment; iii. Institutional, administrative and finan- cial arrangements for establishment, test- ing and operation; iv. Relationship to an effective verification system; c. Other means, including an international atmospheric radioactivity monitoring net- work; d. On-site inspection; (iv) Specific verification problems and their solutions, including: a. Monitoring large land masses; b. Methods of possible evasion; c. Chemical explosions; (c) Compliance: (i) Procedures and mechanisms for consultation and co-operation; (ii) Co-ordinating body, e.g. committee of experts; (iii) Consultative committee; (iv) Series of actions triggered by suspicion or viola- tion, including complaints procedures; 5. Further urges the Conference on Disarmament: (a) To take immediate steps for the establishment, with the widest possible participation, of an international seismic monitoring network to determine the capabilities of such a network for monitoring and verifying compliance with a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty, taking into account the work performed by the Ad Hoe Group of Sci- entific Experts to Consider International Co-operative Measures to Detect and Identify Seismic Events; (b) 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; 6. 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 as called for, inter alia, in the Final Declaration of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 8 7. Calls upon the Conference on Disarmament to report on progress to the General Assembly at its forty- first session; 8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-first session the item entitled "Urgent need for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty". 113th plenary meeting 12 December 1985 40/82. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64 of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of l l December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980, 36/87 of9 December 1981, 37/75 of9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15 December 1983 and 39/54 of 11 A/40/442 and Add. I 12 December 1984 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 63, and in particular paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, 10 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- 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 secu- rity, 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, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General, 11 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;6 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 otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or permit the station- ing 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

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