A/RES/42/32 GA

66 General Assembly-Forly-second Session tive international arrangements on the strengthening of the security of non-nuclear-weapon States agairn,t the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". 84th plenary meeting 30 November 1987 42/32. Conclusion of effective international arrange- ments to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weap- ons The General Assemb/y, Bearing in mind the need to allay the legitimate concern of the States of the world with regard to ensuring lasting security for their peoples, Convinced that nuclear weapons pose the greatest threat to mankind and to the survival of civilization, Deep/y concerned at the continuing escalation of the arms race, in particular the nuclear-arms race, and the possibility of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, Taking into account the principie of the non-use of force or threat of force enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Deeply concerned about the possibility of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapon~, Recognizing that the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of non-nuclear-weapon States need to be safeguarded against the use or threat of use of force, in- cluding the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Considering that, until nuclear disarmament is achieved on a universal basis, it is imperative for the international community to develop effective measures to ensure the security of non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons from any quarter, Recognizing that effective measures to assure the non- nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons can constitute a positive contribution to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, Reca/ling its resolutions 3261 G (XXIX) of 9 December 1974 and 31/189 C of 21 December 1976, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 ofthe Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, 11 in which it urged the nuclear-weapon States to pursue efforts to conclude, as appropriate, effective arrangements to as- sure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear wcapons, Desirous of promoting the implementation of the rele- van! provisions of thc Final Docume11t of the Tenth Spe- cial Sessio11, Reca/ling its resolutions 33/72 B of 14 December 1978, 34/85 of 11 December 1979, 35/155 of 12 December 1980, 36/95 of 9 December 1981, 37/81 of 9 December 1982, 38/68 of 15 Decemher 1983, 39/58 of 12 December 1984, 40/86 of 12 Decemher 1985 and 41 /52 of 3 Dccem- ber 1986, Further reca//ing paragraph 12 of thc Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, co11tai11ed in the a1111ex to its rcsolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, in ter afia, that ali efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmame11t 16 urgently to negoti- ate with a view to reaching agreement on effective interna- tional arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Noting the in-depth negotiations undertaken in the Con- ference on Disarmament and its Ad Hoc Committee on Ef- fective International Arra11gements to Assure Non- Nuclear Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons, 19 with a view to reaching agreement on this itern, Noting the proposals submitted under that ítem in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an in- ternational convention, l'aking note of the decision of the Eighth Conference of Heads of Sta te or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare frnm I to 6 September 1986,20 as well as thc relevant recommendations of the Organization of the Is- lamic Conference reiterated in the Final Communiqué of the Sixteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Fez, Morocco, from 6 to 10 January 1986,21 calling upon the Conference on Disarmament to reach an urgent agreement on an international convention to assure 11011- nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapo11s, Further noting the support expressed in the Conference 011 Disarmament and in the General Assembly for thc elaboration of an international convention to assure non- nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, as well as the difficulties pointed out in evolving a common approach acceptablc to ali, 1. Reaffirms thc urgent 11eed to reach agreement on ef- fective international arrangements to assure 11011-nuclear- weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes with satüfaction that in the Confcrence on Disarmament there is no objection, in principie, to the idea of an internatio11al convention to assure non-nuclear- weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, although the difficulties as regards evolving a common approach acceptable to ali have also been pointed out; 3. Appea/s to ali States, especially the nuclear-weapon States, to demonstrate the political will necessary to reach agreement on a common approach and, in particular, on a common formula which could he included in an interna- tional instrument of a legally binding nature; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts should be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula a11d that the various alternative appro- aches, including in particular those considered in the Con- ference 011 Disarmament, should be further explored in or- der to overcome the difficulties; 5. Recommends that the Conference on Disarmamenl should actively continue negotiations with a view to reach- ing early agreement and concluding effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or t hreat of use of nuclear weapons, taking into account the widespread support for the conclusion of an international convention and giving consideration to any other proposals designed to secure the same objective; b. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-third session the item entitled "Conclusion of effec- tive international arrangemcnt~ to assurc non-nuclear- 1'1 /hid., F,•rltcth S, \\Ío11, Supp/cm<'lll \/o. 2i (A/40/27 and ( ",,rr 1 \_ ,ce"!. 111.F •1º Scc A/4l/h97-~ \X.1,9~. anncx, :-.cct. l. para_ 49 ·' 1 Se,: A/41/.120 S IK04". anncx 1 111. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the First Committec 67 weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". 84th plenary meeting 30 November 1987 42/33. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assemb/y, 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 carried out for the benefit and in the interest of ali coun- tries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of ali mankind, Reaffirming Jurther the will of ali States that the ex- ploration 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- pies Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,22 have undertaken, in article 111, to carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer space, in- cluding the Moon and other celestial bodies, in accor- dance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining interna- tional peace and security and promoting international co- operation and understanding, Reaffirming, in particular, article IV of the above- mentioned 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 weap- ons on celestial bodies or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner, Reaffirming a/so paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, 11 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 of9 December 1982, 37 /99 D of 13 December 1982, 38/70 of 15 December 1983, 39/59 of 12 December 1984, 40/87 of 12 December 1985, and 41/53 of 3 December 1986 and the relevant paragraphs of the Political Declaration adopted by the Eighth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to 6 Sep- tember 1986,23 Grave/y concerned at the danger posed to ali mankind by an arms race in outer space and, in particular, by the im- pending threat of the exacerbation of the current state of insecurity by developments that could further undermine international peace and security and retard the pursuit of general and complete disarmament, 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 22 Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 23 See A/41/697-S/18392, annex, para, 36-39. 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 Disar- mament, Noting the grave concern expressed by the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peace- ful Uses of Outer Space at the extension of an arms race into outer space and the recommendations24 made to the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, and also to the Committee on Disar- mament, 16 Convinced that further measures are needed for the pre- vention of an arms race in outer space, Recognizing that, in the context of multilateral negotia- tions for preventing an arms race in outer space, bilateral negotiations between the Union ofSoviet 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, Noting with satisfaction that bilateral negotiations be- tween the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America have continued since 1985 on a complex of questions concerning space and nuclear arms, both strategic and intermediate-range, and in their rela- tionship, with the declared objective, endorsed in the joint statement of their leaders on 21 November 1985, 15 of working out effective agreements aimed, in ter afia, at pre- venting an arms race in outer space, Anxious that concrete results should emerge from these negotiations as soon as possible, Taking note of that part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to this question,26 Welcoming the re-establishment of an Ad Hoc Commit- tee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space during the 1987 session of the Conference on Disarma- ment, in the exercise of the negotiating responsibilities of this sole multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, to continue to examine and to identify through substantive and general consideration issues relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, Noting that the work accomplished in 1987 by the Ad Hoc Committee has contributed to a fuller identification of issues anda better understanding ofa number ofproblems and to a clearer perception of the various positions, 1. Recalls the obligation of ali 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 upan ali 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 mea- sures to prevent an arms race in outer space in the interest 24 See Reporl of the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Ul"es of Outer Space. Vienna. 9-21 August 1982 (A/CONF.101/10 and Corr.1 and 2), para. 426. 2' A/40/1070. annex. 26 Official Records of the General Assembly. Forry-second Session. Supplemenr No. 27 (A/42127). ,ect. III.E.

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