A/RES/67/34 GA

United Nations A/RES/67/34 General Assembly Distr.: General 4 January 2013 Sixty-seventh session Agenda item 94 (x) 12-48064 *1248064* Please recycle Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2012 [on the report of the First Committee (A/67/409)] 67/34. Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 66/40 of 2 December 2011, Reiterating its grave concern at the danger to humanity posed by the possibility that nuclear weapons could be used, Recalling the expression of deep concern by the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons,1 Reaffirming that nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing processes requiring urgent irreversible progress on both fronts, Recalling the decisions entitled “Strengthening the review process for the Treaty”, “Principles and objectives for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament” and “Extension of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons” and the resolution on the Middle East, all of which were adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 2 and the Final Document of the 2000 3 and the 2010 4 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Recalling in particular the unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, leading to _______________ 1 See 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vol. I)), part I, Conclusions and recommendations for follow-on actions. 2 See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I) and Corr.2), annex. 3 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I–IV)). 4 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I–III (NPT/CONF.2010/50 (Vols. I–III)). A/RES/67/34 2 nuclear disarmament, in accordance with commitments made under article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,5 agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference and reaffirmed by the 2010 Review Conference, Reaffirming the commitment of all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to apply the principles of irreversibility, verifiability and transparency in relation to the implementation of their treaty obligations, Recalling that the 2010 Review Conference reaffirmed and recognized that the total elimination of nuclear weapons was the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and the legitimate interest of non-nuclear- weapon States in receiving unequivocal and legally binding negative security assurances from nuclear-weapon States, Recognizing the continued vital importance of the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty6 to the advancement of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation objectives, and welcoming the recent ratifications of the Treaty by Guatemala and Indonesia, the latter being listed in annex 2 to the Treaty, as well as its signature by Niue, Reaffirming the conviction that the establishment and maintenance of nuclear- weapon-free zones enhances global and regional peace and security, strengthens the nuclear non-proliferation regime and contributes towards realizing the objectives of nuclear disarmament, encouraging further progress towards strengthening all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, including through the withdrawal of any reservations or interpretative declarations contrary to the object and purpose of the treaties establishing these zones, and recognizing the first preparatory meeting for the Third Conference of States Parties and Signatories of Treaties that Establish Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones and Mongolia, held in Vienna on 27 April 2012, Recognizing efforts towards strengthening existing nuclear-weapon-free zones, including the ratification by the Russian Federation of protocols I and II to the Treaty of Pelindaba,7 the steps taken by the United States of America towards the ratification of the protocols to the Treaty of Pelindaba and to the Treaty of Rarotonga,8 and discussions between the States parties to the Treaty of Bangkok9 and the nuclear-weapon States on the Protocol to that Treaty, as well as the recent declaration by the nuclear-weapon States in which they affirmed the nuclear- weapon-free status of Mongolia, and urging the successful conclusion of all outstanding issues as a matter of priority, Recalling the encouragement expressed at the 2010 Review Conference for the establishment of further nuclear-weapon-free zones, on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned, and expressing the hope that this will be followed by concerted international efforts to create such zones in areas where they do not currently exist, especially in the Middle East, Noting with satisfaction the agreement at the 2010 Review Conference on practical steps to fully implement the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, _______________ 5 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 6 See resolution 50/245 and A/50/1027. 7 See A/50/426, annex. 8 The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 10: 1985 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.86.IX.7), appendix VII. 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1981, No. 33873. A/RES/67/34 3 Acknowledging the ongoing efforts towards the full implementation of the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, while re-emphasizing the encouragement of the 2010 Review Conference to both States to continue discussions on follow-on measures in order to achieve deeper reductions in their nuclear arsenals, addressing deployed and non-deployed nuclear weapons, both strategic and non-strategic, regardless of their location, Deeply disappointed at the continued absence of progress towards multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament issues, in particular in the Conference on Disarmament, despite efforts during 2012 to agree on a programme of work, and underlining the importance of multilateralism in relation to nuclear disarmament, while recognizing the value also of bilateral and regional initiatives, Welcoming the holding of the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, in Vienna from 30 April to 11 May 2012, and emphasizing the importance of a constructive and successful preparatory process leading to the 2015 Review Conference, which should contribute to strengthening the Treaty and make progress towards achieving its full implementation and universality and the monitoring of the commitments made and actions agreed at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conference, 1. Reiterates that each article of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons5 is binding on the States parties at all times and in all circumstances and that all States parties should be held fully accountable with respect to strict compliance with their obligations under the Treaty, and calls upon all States parties to comply fully with all decisions, resolutions and commitments made at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conference; 2. Recalls with satisfaction the adoption by the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of a substantive final document containing conclusions and recommendations for follow- on actions relating to nuclear disarmament, including concrete steps for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, nuclear non-proliferation, peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the Middle East, particularly implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East;4 3. Welcomes, in particular, the resolve of the 2010 Review Conference to seek a safer world for all and to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons, in accordance with the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 4. Reiterates the deep concern expressed by the 2010 Review Conference at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law; 5. Recalls the reaffirmation of the continued validity of the practical steps agreed to in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 10 including the specific _______________ 10 See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I and II)), part I, section entitled “Article VI and eighth to twelfth preambular paragraphs”, para. 15. A/RES/67/34 4 reaffirmation of the unequivocal undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament, to which all States parties are committed under article VI of the Treaty; 6. Also recalls the commitment by the nuclear-weapon States to undertake further efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate all types of nuclear weapons, deployed and non-deployed, including through unilateral, bilateral, regional and multilateral measures; 7. Underlines the recognition by the 2010 Review Conference of the legitimate interests of non-nuclear-weapon States in the nuclear-weapon States constraining their development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and ending their development of advanced new types of nuclear weapons, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take steps in this regard; 8. Encourages further steps by all nuclear-weapon States, in accordance with the action plan on nuclear disarmament of the Final Document of the 2010 Review Conference,1 to ensure the irreversible removal of all fissile material designated by each nuclear-weapon State as no longer required for military purposes, urges the nuclear-weapon States to initiate and accelerate the development of multilateral arrangements for placing such material, including weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, under verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency and to make arrangements for the disposition of such material for peaceful purposes, and calls upon all States to support, within the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the development of appropriate nuclear disarmament verification capabilities and legally binding verification arrangements, thereby ensuring that such material remains permanently outside military programmes in a verifiable manner; 9. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to work towards the full implementation of the resolution on the Middle East adopted at the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,2 recognizes the endorsement by the 2010 Review Conference of practical steps in a process leading to the full implementation of the 1995 resolution, including the convening of a conference in 2012, to be attended by all States of the region, on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction; 10. Calls upon the Secretary-General and the co-sponsors of the 1995 resolution, in close consultation and cooperation with the States of the region, to undertake all necessary preparations for the convening of the 2012 conference, and in this regard fully supports the work of the facilitator, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy of Finland, Mr. Jaakko Laajava; 11. Continues to emphasize the fundamental role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in achieving nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and calls upon all States parties to spare no effort to achieve the universality of the Treaty, and in this regard urges India, Israel and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear-weapon States promptly and without conditions and to place all their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 12. Urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil the commitments under the Six-Party Talks, including those in the September 2005 joint statement, to A/RES/67/34 5 abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and to return, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to its adherence to the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards agreement, with a view to achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner, and reaffirms its firm support for the Six-Party Talks; 13. Urges all States to work together to overcome obstacles within the international disarmament machinery that are inhibiting efforts to advance the cause of nuclear disarmament in a multilateral context, and to immediately implement the three specific recommendations of the 2010 Review Conference action plan addressed to the Conference on Disarmament; 14. Recalls that the commitment of the nuclear-weapon States to accelerate concrete progress on the steps leading to nuclear disarmament as envisaged in action 5 of the 2010 Review Conference action plan is: (a) To rapidly move towards an overall reduction in the global stockpile of all types of nuclear weapons, as identified in action 3 of the action plan; (b) To address the question of all nuclear weapons regardless of their type or their location as an integral part of the general nuclear disarmament process; (c) To further diminish the role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts, doctrines and policies; (d) To discuss policies that could prevent the use of nuclear weapons and eventually lead to their elimination, lessen the danger of nuclear war and contribute to the non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons; (e) To consider the legitimate interest of non-nuclear-weapon States in further reducing the operational status of nuclear-weapons systems in ways that promote international stability and security; (f) To reduce the risk of accidental use of nuclear weapons; (g) To further enhance transparency and mutual confidence; 15. Stresses the importance of the fulfilment by the nuclear-weapon States of the commitments they made at the 2010 Review Conference to accelerate concrete progress on the steps leading to nuclear disarmament contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference, welcomes the meeting of the nuclear-weapon States held in Washington, D.C., from 27 to 29 June 2012 to consider progress to date in this regard, and calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to take all necessary steps to accelerate the fulfilment of their commitments with a view to reporting substantive progress in 2014 to the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 16. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to implement their nuclear disarmament commitments in a manner that enables the States parties to regularly monitor progress, and to agree as soon as possible on a standard reporting format to facilitate reporting; 17. Welcomes the announcements made by some nuclear-weapon States providing information about their nuclear arsenals, policies and disarmament efforts, and urges those nuclear-weapon States that have not yet done so also to provide this information; 18. Calls upon all States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to implement all elements of the 2010 Review Conference action A/RES/67/34 6 plan in a faithful and timely manner so that progress across all of the pillars of the Treaty can be realized; 19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-eighth session, under the item entitled “General and complete disarmament”, the sub-item entitled “Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: accelerating the implementation of nuclear disarmament commitments” and to review the implementation of the present resolution at that session. 48th plenary meeting 3 December 2012

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