A/RES/43/70 GA

70 General Assembly-Forty-third Session ----------------------------------- -------"- -------- ---- Deeply 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 ofthe non-use offorce 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 weapons, 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, Consideríng 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, Recalling its resolutions 3261 G (XXIX) of 9 December 1974 and 31/189 C of 21 December 1976, Bearing in mind paragraph 59 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, 13 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 weapons, Desirous of promoting the implementation of the rele- vant provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Spe- cial Session, Recalling a/so its resolutions 33/72 B of 14 December 1978, 34/85 of 11 December 1979, 35/155 of 12 Decem- ber 1980, 36/95 of9December 1981, 37/81 of9Decem- ber 1982, 38/68 of 15 December 1983, 39/58 of 12 December 1984, 40/86 of 12 December 1985, 41/52 of 3 December 1986 and 42/32 of 30 November 1987, Recalling further paragraph 12 of the Declaration of the 1980s as the Second Disarmament Decade, contained in the annex to its resolution 35/46 of 3 December 1980, which states, ínter alía, that ali efforts should be exerted by the Committee on Disarmament 18 urgently to negoti- ate with a view to reaching agreement on effective interna- tional arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapo11 States agai11st the use or threat of use of nuclear weapo11s, Notíng the i11-depth negotiations u11dertake11 in the Con- fere11ce 011 Disarmame11t a11d its Ad Hoc Committee 011 Ef- fective International Arra11gements to Assure Non- Nuclear-Weapon States against the Use or Threat of Use ofNuclear Weapons, 22 with a view to reaching agreement on this ítem, Taking note of the proposals submitted under that item in the Conference on Disarmament, including the drafts of an international convention, Taking note of the decision of the Eighth Conference of Heads ofState or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from I to 6 September 1986,23 as well as thc relevant recommendations of thc Organization of the Is- 22 Ojjicial Record, of tlie General Assembly. Forricth Session. Supplement No. 27 and c:orrigendum (A/40/27 ami Cnrr.1 ). sect. 111.F 23 See A/41/697-S/18J92, annex. sec:t. 1, para. 49. lamic Conference reiterated in the Final Communiqué of the Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Amman from 21 to 25 March 1988, 24 calling u pon the Conference on Disarmament to reach an urgent agree- ment on an international convention to assure non- nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons, Notíng the support expressed in the Conference on Disarmament and in the General Assembly for the elabo- ration 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 acceptable to all, 1. Reaffirms the urgent need to reach agreement on ef- fective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear- weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons; 2. Notes wíth satisfactíon that in the Conference on Disarmament there is no objection, in principie, to the idea of an international 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. Appeals 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 that could be included in an interna- tional instrument of a legally binding character; 4. Recommends that further intensive efforts should be devoted to the search for such a common approach or common formula and that the various alternative ap- proaches, including, in particular, those considered in the Cónference on Disarmament, should be further explored in order to overcome the difficulties; 5. Recommends that the Conference on Disarmament 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 threat 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; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session the ítem entitled "Conclusion of effec- tive international arrangements to assure non-nuclear- weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons". 73rd plenary meeting 7 December /988 43/70. Prevention of an arms race in outer space The General Assemhly, lnspired by the great prospects opening up before man- kind as a result of man's entry into outer space, Recognizing the common interest of ali mankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Reaffirming that the exploration ami 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 devclopment, and shall he the province of ali mankind, 24 'Íél' A/43/391-S/!99}11, annex l. IU. Resolutions adopted on the reports of the First Committee 71 Reaffirming a/so 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 the obligation of ali States, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to refrain from the threat or use of force, including in their space activities, 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, 25 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, 13 in which it is stated that in arder 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, Bearing in mind its resolutions 36/97 C and 36/99 of 9 December 1981, as well as resolutions 37/83 of 9 December 1982, 37/99 D of 13 December 1982, 38/70 of IS December 1983, 39/S9 of 12 December 1984, 40/87 of 12December 198S, 41/S3 of 3December 1986 and 42/33 of 30 November 1987 and the relevant paragraphs ofthe Political Declaration adopted by the Eighth Confer- ence of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to 6 September 1986,26 Recognizing the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common objective, Gravely 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, Encouraged by the widespread interest expressed by Member States in the course of negotiations on and fol- lowing the adoption of the above-mentioned Treaty in en- suring that the exploration and use of outer space should be_ for peaceful purposes, and taking note of proposals sub- m1tted 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 recommendations27 made to the competent organs ofthe United Nations, in particular the General Assembly, and also to the Committee on Disar- mament, 18 25 Resolution 2222 (XXI), annex. 26 A/41/697-S/18392, annex, paras. 36-39. 27 See Report of the Second United Natwns Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses ofOuter Space, Vienna, 9-21 August 1982 (A/CONF.101/10 and Corr. l and 2), para. 426. Noting a/so that in 1988 the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its establishment, under- took the examination and identification of various issues, existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as fu- ture initiatives relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, 28 and that this contributed to a better un- derstanding of a number of problems and to a clearer per- ception of the various positions, Convinced that additional measures should be examined in the search for effective and verifiable bilateral and mul- tilateral agreements in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict com- pliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, and with the existing legal régime concerning the use of outer space, Emphasizing also the necessity of maintaining the effec- tiveness of relevant existing treaties, and in this context reaffirming the vital importance of strict compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Sys- tems, 29 Recognizing that bilateral negotiations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America could facilitate the multilateral negotiations for the prevention of an arms race in outer space in accor- dance with paragraph 27 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session, Noting the importance in this context of bilateral ne- gotiations between the Union ofSoviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America that have continued since 198S, including at their summit meetings in Wash- ington and Moscow on a complex of questions concerning space and nuclear arms, Hopeful that concrete results would emerge from these negotiations as soon as possible, Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space, Taking note of that part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to this question, 30 Welcoming the re-establishment of an Ad Hoc Commit- tee on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space during the 1988 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 preven- tion of an arms race in outer space, 1. 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; 2. Recognizes, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Conference on Disarmament, that the legal régime applicable to outer space by itself does not guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that this legal régime plays a significant role in the preven- tion of an arms race in that environment, the need to con- solidate and reinforce that régime and enhance its effec- zs See Official Record, of the General Assembly. Forty-third Session, Suf¡lement No. 27 (A/43/27), para. 80. • United Nations, Treatv Series, vol. 944, No. 13446. 30 Official Records of Íhe General Assembly, Forty-third Session, Supplemcnt No. 27 (A/43/27), sect. 111.E. 72 General Assembly-Forty-third Sessión tiveness, and the importance of strict comI?liance with existing agreements, both bilateral and mult1lateral; 31 3. Emphasizes that further measures with appropriate and effective provisions for verification to pre~ent an ~rms race in outer space should be adopted by the mternat10nal community; 4. Calls upon ali States, in particular those wi.th l!lajor space capabilities, to contribute actJvely to the obJect1ve of the peaceful use of outer space and to take im.med1a_te mea- sures to prevent an arms race in outer space m_ the mterest of maintaining international peace and secunty an? pro- moting international co-operation and understandmg; 5. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating _forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement or agreem~nts, as appropriate, c:m the preven- tion of an arms race m outer space m ali 1ts aspects; 6. Requests the Conference on Disarmament t<? con- sider as a matter of priority the question of preventmg an arms race in outer space; 7. Also requests the Conference 01,1 Disarmament to _in- tensify its consideration of the ques~1on of the pre~en~1on of an arms race in outer space in ali 1ts aspects, takmg mto account ali relevant proposals and initiatives, including those presented in the Ad Hoc Committe~ at the _I 988 ses- sion of the Conference and at the forty-th1rd sess1on of the General Assembly; 8. Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to re-establish an ad hoc committee with an adequate man- date at the beginning of its 1989 session, with a view to un- dertaking negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent an arms race in outer space in ali its aspects; 9. Urges the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America to pursue intensively their bilateral negotiations in a construct!ve spirit aimed ~t reaching early agreement for preventmg an arms _race m outer space, and to advise the Conference on D1sarma- ment periodically of the progress of their bilateral sessions so as to facilitate its work; 10. Calls upan ali States, especially those with major space capabilities, to refrain, in their activities relating to outer space, from actions contrary to the observance of~he relevant existing treaties or to the objective of preventmg an arms race in outer space; 11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of the prevention of an arms race in outer space,31' submitted in accordance with resolution 42/33 of 30 November 1987; 12. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to re- port on its consideration of this subject to the General As- sembly at its forty-fourth session; 13. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament ali documents relating to the consideration of this subject by the General Assembly at its forty-third session; 14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session the ítem entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space". 73rd plenary meeting 7 December 1988 31 /bid., para. 80 (para. 48 of the quoted text). 32 A/43/506 and Corr. 1 and Add. l and 2. 43/71. Implementation of the Declaration on the Denu- clearization of Africa A IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ÜECLARATION The General Assembly, Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Denucleariza- tion of Africa33 adopted by the Assembly ofHeads ofState and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its first ordinary session. held at Cairo from 17 to 21 July 1964, Recalling its resolution 1652 (XVI) of ?4 Noven:iber 1961, its earliest on the subject, as well as 1ts resolut10ns 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 of 9 December 1982, 38/181 A of20 December 1983, 39/61 A of 12 December 1984, 40/89 A of 12 December 1985, 41/55 A of 3 December 1986 and 42/34 A of 30 Novem- ber 1987, in which it called u pon ali Sta tes to con~ider and respect the continent of Africa and its surroundmg 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 Afric_a to in- troduce nuclear weapons into the contment of Afnca and demanded that South Africa refrain forthwith from con- ducting any nuclear explosion in the continent or else- where, Bearing in mind the provisions of resolution CM/ Res.11 O 1 (XL VI)/Rev. I 34 on the denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Cou!lcil of Mi!}isters ~f the Org~ni- zation of African Unity at 1ts forty-s1xth ordmary sess1on, held at Addis Ababa from 20 to 25 July 1987, Having taken note of the report of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research entitled "South Africa's nuclear capability",35 undertaken in co-operation with the Department of Disarmament Affairs of the Sec- retariat and in consultation with the Organization of Afri- can Unity, as well as of the report of the Disarmament Commission,36 Noting the actions taken by those Governments which have taken measures to restrict co-operation with South Africa in nuclear and other fields, Expressing regret that, despite the threat that S_outh Africa's nuclear capability constitutes to internatlonal peace and security and, in pa~ticular, to the realiza_tio~ of the objective of the Declaration on th_e J?enucleanzat10!1 of Africa, the Disarmament Comm1ss1on, although 1t made sorne progress during its substantive ses~io_n in 1988, failed once again to reach a consensus on th1s 1mportant item on its agenda, l. Strongly renews its cal! upon ali 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 As- sembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organi- zation of African Unity would be an important measure to 33 Official Records o} the General Assembly, Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 105, document A/5975. 34 See A/42/699, annex l. 35 A/39/470. 36 Officíal Records of the General Assembly, Forty-third Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/43/42).

UN Project. “A/RES/43/70.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-43-70/. Accessed .

Copy citation