The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 2373 (XXII) of 12 June 1968, the annex to which contains the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,
Noting the provisions of article X, paragraph 2, of that Treaty, requiring the holding of a conference twenty-five years after the entry into force of the Treaty, to decide whether the Treaty shall continue in force indefinitely or shall be extended for an additional fixed period or periods,
Noting also the provisions of article VIII, paragraph 3, concerning the convening of review conferences, which provides for quinquennial review conferences,
Noting further that the last review conference took place in 1990,
Recalling that the Treaty entered into force on 5 March 1970,
Recalling also its decision 46/413 of 6 December 1991, by which it took note of the intent of the parties to form a preparatory committee in 1993 for the conference called for in article X, paragraph 2, of the Treaty,
1. Takes note of the decision of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, following appropriate consultations, to form a preparatory committee for a conference to review the operation of the Treaty and to decide on its extension, as called for in article X, paragraph 2, and also as provided for in article VIII, paragraph 3, of the Treaty;
2. Notes that the Preparatory Committee will be open to all the parties to the Treaty and, if the Preparatory Committee so decides at the outset of its first session, to States not parties, as observers, and will hold its first meeting in New York from 10 to 14 May 1993;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services, including summary records, as may be required for the 1995 Conference and its Preparatory Committee.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 46/36 E of 6 December 1991,
1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament on its 1992 session that deals with the question of radiological weapons, in particular the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Radiological Weapons;
2. Recognizes that in 1992 the Ad Hoc Committee made a further contribution to the clarification of different approaches that continue to exist with regard to both of the important subjects under consideration;
3. Takes note also of the recommendation of the Conference on Disarmament that the Ad Hoc Committee on Radiological Weapons should be re-established at the beginning of its 1993 session and that it should be given guidance on reviewing the organization of its work with the aim of fulfilling its mandate;
4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to continue its substantive negotiation on the subject with a view to the prompt conclusion of its work, taking into account all proposals presented to the Conference to this end and drawing upon the annexes to the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, the result of which should be submitted to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on Disarmament all relevant documents relating to the discussion of all aspects of the issue by the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of radiological weapons".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 46/36 D of 6 December 1991 and previous resolutions, in which it requested the Conference on Disarmament, at an appropriate stage of the implementation of the Programme of Action set forth in section III of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly and of its work on the item entitled "Nuclear weapons in all aspects", to consider urgently the question of adequately verified cessation and prohibition of the production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices and to keep the Assembly informed of the progress of that consideration,
Noting that the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament for 1992 included the item entitled "Nuclear weapons in all aspects" and that the programme of work of the Conference for all three parts of its 1992 session contained the item entitled "Cessation of the nuclear-arms race and nuclear disarmament",
Recalling also the proposals and statements made in the Conference on Disarmament on those items,
Welcoming the significant progress in reducing nuclear-weapon arsenals as evidenced by substantive bilateral agreements between the Russian Federation and the United States of America and unilateral undertakings by France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States towards the reduction in some of their nuclear-weapons programmes or of the numbers of nuclear weapons and their delivery systems as well as regarding the disposition of fissile material,
Welcoming also the recent decision by the United States not to produce plutonium or highly enriched uranium for nuclear explosive purposes,
Considering that the cessation of production of fissionable material for weapons purposes and the progressive conversion and transfer of stocks to peaceful uses would also be a significant step towards halting and reversing the nuclear-arms race,
Considering also that the prohibition of the production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons and other explosive devices would be an important measure in facilitating the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and explosive devices,
1. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to pursue its consideration of the question of adequately verified cessation and prohibition of the production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices and to keep the General Assembly informed of the progress of that consideration;
2. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the production of fissionable material for weapons purposes".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988 and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, concerning the dumping of nuclear and industrial wastes in Africa,
Welcoming resolution GC(XXXIII)/RES/509 on the dumping of nuclear wastes, adopted on 29 September 1989 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-third regular session,
Welcoming also resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/530 establishing a Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste, adopted on 21 September 1990 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at its thirty-fourth regular session,
Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December 1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament, inter alia, to consider effective methods of control against the use of radiological methods of warfare,
Recalling resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa,
Aware of the potential hazards underlying any use of radioactive wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and its implications for regional and international security, and in particular for the security of developing countries,
Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly,
Aware also of the consideration in the Conference on Disarmament during its 1992 session of the question of dumping of radioactive wastes,
Gravely concerned at the recently reported efforts to dump harmful wastes in Somalia,
Recalling its resolution 46/36 K of 6 December 1991, in which it requested the Conference on Disarmament to include in its report to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session the progress recorded in the ongoing negotiations on this subject,
1. Takes note of the part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to a future convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons;
2. Expresses grave concern regarding any use of nuclear wastes that would constitute radiological warfare and have grave implications for the national security of all States;
3. Calls upon all States to take appropriate measures with a view to preventing any dumping of nuclear or radioactive wastes that would infringe upon the sovereignty of States;
4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to take into account, in the ongoing negotiations for a convention on the prohibition of radiological weapons, radioactive wastes as part of the scope of such a convention;
5. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify efforts towards an early conclusion of such a convention and to include in its report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session the progress recorded in the ongoing negotiations on this subject;
6. Takes note of resolution CM/Res.1356 (LIV) of 1991, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, on the Bamako Convention on the Ban on the Import of Hazardous Wastes into Africa and on the Control of Their Transboundary Movements within Africa;
7. Expresses the hope that the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste will enhance the protection of all States from the dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories;
8. Requests the International Atomic Energy Agency to continue keeping the subject under active review, including the desirability of concluding a legally binding instrument in this field;
9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping of radioactive wastes".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 31/72 of 10 December 1976, in which it referred the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques to all States for their consideration, signature and ratification and expressed the hope for the widest possible adherence to the Convention,
Recalling also its resolution 46/36 A of 6 December 1991, in which it noted that a majority of States parties to the Convention had expressed their wish to convene the Second Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention in September 1992,
Welcoming the fact that States parties to the Convention met at Geneva from 14 to 18 September 1992 to review the operation of the Convention, with a view to ensuring that its purposes and provisions were being realized,
Having considered the Final Document of the Second Review Conference,
Noting with satisfaction that the Review Conference confirmed that the obligations assumed under article I of the Convention had been faithfully observed by the States parties,
Noting also that the Review Conference recognized the continuing importance of the Convention and its objectives and the common interest of mankind in maintaining its effectiveness in prohibiting the use of environmental modification techniques as a means of war,
Emphasizing that in its Final Declaration the Second Review Conference reaffirmed its belief that universal adherence to the Convention would enhance international peace and security,
Bearing in mind that the States parties to the Convention reaffirmed their strong common interest in preventing the use of environmental modification techniques for military or any other hostile purposes, their strong support for the Convention, their continued dedication to its principles and objectives and their commitment to implement effectively its provisions,
1. Notes the assessment by the Second Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques that the Convention has been effective in preventing military or any other hostile use of any environmental modification techniques between States parties and that its provisions need to be kept under continuing review and examination in order to ensure their global effectiveness;
2. Welcomes the reaffirmation by the Review Conference of support for article II of the Convention and for the definition therein of the term "environmental modification techniques", which States parties to the Convention agree that, taken together with the Understandings relating to articles I and II, covers military or any other hostile use of any environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of destruction, damage or injury to any State party by another State party;
3. Notes with satisfaction the confirmation by the Review Conference that the military or any other hostile use of herbicides as an environmental modification technique in the meaning of article II is a method of warfare prohibited by article I if such use of herbicides upsets the ecological balance of a region, thus causing widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of destruction, damage or injury to any other State party;
4. Calls upon all States to refrain from military or any other hostile use of any environmental modification techniques;
5. Urges all States that have not already done so to exert their best endeavours to become parties to the Convention as early as possible, and urges successor States to take appropriate action, so as ultimately to obtain universality of adherence;
6. Welcomes the reaffirmation of the undertaking, under article V, of all States parties to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objectives of, or in the application of the provisions of, the Convention;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to assist States parties in promoting the universality of the Convention, including through the provision of appropriate advice on procedures.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly concerning the relationship between disarmament and development,
Recalling also the adoption on 11 September 1987 of the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development,
Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Jakarta from 1 to 6 September 1992,
Stressing the growing importance of the symbiotic relationship between disarmament and development in current international relations,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General and actions undertaken in accordance with the Final Document of the International Conference on the Relationship between Disarmament and Development;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take action, through appropriate organs and within available resources, for the implementation of the action programme adopted at the International Conference;
3. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session;
4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Relationship between disarmament and development".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 44/116 U and 44/117 B of 15 December 1989, 45/58 M of 4 December 1990 and 46/36 F of 6 December 1991,
Considering that the regional approach to disarmament is one of the most important means by which States can contribute to the strengthening of international security, arms limitation and disarmament,
Recognizing that the regional and global approaches complement each other and can be pursued simultaneously in the promotion of regional and international peace and security,
Convinced that disarmament can be carried out only in a climate of confidence based on mutual respect and aimed at ensuring better relations founded on justice, solidarity and cooperation,
Noting that the consumption of resources for potentially destructive purposes is in stark contrast to the need for social and economic development and that reduction in military expenditure following, inter alia, the conclusion of regional disarmament agreements could entail benefits in both the social and economic fields,
Considering that regional disarmament measures should be aimed at establishing a military balance at the lowest level while not diminishing the security of each State and at eliminating as a matter of priority the capability for large-scale offensive action and surprise attacks,
Noting also that disarmament measures in one region should not lead to increased arms transfers to other regions or extend the military imbalances and/or tensions from one area to other areas,
Considering also that confidence-building and transparency measures are essential elements in the implementation of regional disarmament,
Persuaded that verification measures are important to ensure compliance with regional agreements on arms control and disarmament,
1. Reaffirms that the regional approach to disarmament is one of the essential elements in the global efforts to strengthen international peace and security, arms limitation and disarmament;
2. Is convinced of the importance and effectiveness of regional disarmament measures taken at the initiative of States of the region and with the participation of all States concerned and taking into account the specific characteristics of each region, in that they can contribute to the security and stability of all States, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in compliance with international law and existing treaties;
3. Affirms that comprehensive political and peaceful settlement of regional conflicts and disputes can contribute to the reduction of tension and the promotion of regional peace, security and stability as well as of arms limitation and disarmament;
4. Stresses the importance of confidence-building measures, including objective information on military matters, in ensuring the success of this process;
5. Affirms also that multifaceted cooperation among States in the region, especially encompassing political, economic, social and cultural fields, can be conducive to the strengthening of regional security and stability;
6. Notes with satisfaction the important progress made in various regions of the world through the adoption of arms limitation, peace, security and cooperation agreements, including those related to the prohibition of weapons of mass destruction, and encourages States in the regions concerned to continue implementing these agreements;
7. Recognizes the useful role played by the regional centres of the United Nations;
8. Encourages States of the same region to examine the possibility of creating, on their own initiative, regional mechanisms and/or institutions for the establishment of measures in the framework of an effort of regional disarmament or for the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts with the assistance, if requested, of the United Nations;
9. Believes that regional initiatives should enjoy the support of all States of the region concerned and the respect of those outside that region;
10. Invites and encourages all States to conclude, whenever possible, agreements on arms limitation and confidence-building measures at the regional level, including those conducive to avoiding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 45/58 O of 4 December 1990, in which it requested the Secretary-General, with the assistance of qualified governmental experts, to undertake a study on defensive security concepts and policies,
Noting with satisfaction positive developments in the world, reflecting a trend towards reducing the significance of military power in ensuring national policy aims,
Realizing that threats to international peace and security caused by recurring acts of aggression underline the need for intensified efforts towards elaborating a broad range of peaceful means for the prevention of conflicts, including confidence-building measures,
Noting that defensive security concepts as well as initiatives on preventive diplomacy contribute to the strengthening of international peace and security,
Considering the importance of the development of an international dialogue on defensive security policies for the promotion of security and stability in the world,
Having examined the report of the Secretary-General containing the study on defensive security concepts and policies,
1. Takes note of the study on defensive security concepts and policies;
2. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General and to the group of experts who assisted in the preparation of the study;
3. Calls upon all Member States to familiarize themselves with the study and its conclusions and recommendations;
4. Recalls that, in its resolution 45/58 O, it invited Member States to initiate or intensify the dialogue on defensive security concepts and policies at the bilateral level, particularly at the regional level and, where appropriate, at the multilateral level, and notes that the study concluded that:
"To this end, Member States could:
"(a) Express their views on the concept and objective of 'defensive security', as defined in the present study;
"(b) Examine their current situation with respect to the political and military aspects of 'defensive security';
"(c) Determine to what extent their international relations, their security commitments and their regional situation might enable them to consider taking measures, on the basis of reciprocity, to achieve a situation of 'defensive security' at the bilateral, regional or multilateral level. The States that share common security interests at a regional or other level might consider undertaking consultations among themselves;
"(d) Consider, individually or jointly, problems relating to the resources needed to fulfil collective security commitments consistent with the Charter of the United Nations;
"(e) Keep the Secretary-General informed of progress or initiatives in the field of 'defensive security'";
5. Requests the Secretary-General to arrange for the reproduction of the study as a United Nations publication and to give it the widest possible distribution.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Determined to achieve progress in disarmament,
Stressing that confidence-building and disarmament measures have a positive impact on international security,
Noting the work accomplished in 1992 by the Disarmament Commission on its agenda items entitled "Objective information on military matters" and "Regional approach to disarmament within the context of global security",
Recalling its resolutions 43/75 P of 7 December 1988, 44/116 I of 15 December 1989, 45/58 I of 4 December 1990 and 46/36 G of 6 December 1991,
Reaffirming the great importance of increasing security and stability in Europe through the establishment of a stable, secure and verifiable balance of conventional armed forces at lower levels, as well as through increased openness and predictability of military activities,
Considering that, along with the new political situation in Europe, the positive results of the negotiations on confidence- and security-building measures, as well as those on conventional armaments and forces, both within the framework of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, have considerably increased confidence and security in Europe, thereby contributing to international peace and security,
Welcoming the new measures agreed upon in these fields among the States signatories of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and among the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe,
Expressing the hope that the implementation of these decisions will contribute to the prevention or settlement of crises in Europe, including those due to acts of aggression or the use of military force in some parts of the continent,
1. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved so far in the process of disarmament and the strengthening of confidence and security in Europe;
2. Welcomes in particular:
(a) The decision of the States signatories of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe to implement this Treaty, as well as the recent Concluding Act of the Negotiations on Personnel Strength of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe;
(b) The signature of the Treaty on Open Skies, with the adoption of the Declaration on the Treaty on Open Skies;
(c) The adoption, by the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, of a new significant set of confidence- and security-building measures;
(d) The decision of the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, at the Helsinki summit meeting in July 1992, to establish a CSCE Forum for Security Cooperation with a mandate to start new negotiations on arms control, disarmament, and confidence- and security-building; to enhance regular consultation and to intensify cooperation among them on matters related to security, and to further the process of reducing the risk of conflict;
3. Invites all States to consider the possibility of taking appropriate measures with a view to reducing the risk of confrontation and strengthening security, taking due account of their specific regional conditions.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990 and 46/36 I of 6 December 1991 on regional disarmament,
Believing that the efforts of the international community to move towards the ideal of general and complete disarmament are guided by the inherent human desire for genuine peace and security, the elimination of the danger of war and the release of economic, intellectual and other resources for peaceful pursuits,
Affirming the abiding commitment of all States to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in the conduct of their international relations,
Noting that essential guidelines for progress towards general and complete disarmament were adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly,
Welcoming the prospects of genuine progress in the field of disarmament engendered in recent years as a result of negotiations between the two super-Powers,
Taking note of the recent proposals for disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation at regional and subregional levels,
Recognizing the importance of confidence-building measures for regional and international peace and security,
Convinced that endeavours by countries to promote regional disarmament, taking into account the specific characteristics of each region and in accordance with the principle of undiminished security at the lowest level of armaments, would enhance the security of smaller States and would thus contribute to international peace and security by reducing the risk of regional conflicts,
1. Stresses that sustained efforts are needed, within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament and under the umbrella of the United Nations, to make progress on the entire range of disarmament issues;
2. Affirms that global and regional approaches to disarmament complement each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously to promote regional and international peace and security;
3. Calls upon States to conclude agreements, wherever possible, for nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and confidence-building measures at regional and subregional levels;
4. Welcomes the initiatives towards disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and security undertaken by some countries at regional and subregional levels;
5. Supports and encourages efforts aimed at promoting confidence-building measures at regional and subregional levels in order to ease regional tensions and to further disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation measures at regional and subregional levels;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its previous relevant resolutions,
Recognizing the fundamental changes that have taken place with respect to international security, which have permitted agreements on deep reductions in the nuclear armaments of the States possessing the largest inventories of such weapons,
Mindful that it is the responsibility and obligation of all States to contribute to the process of the relaxation of international tension and to the strengthening of international peace and security,
Stressing the importance of strengthening international peace and security through disarmament,
Emphasizing that nuclear disarmament remains one of the principal tasks of our times,
Stressing also that it is the responsibility of all States to adopt and implement measures towards the attainment of general and complete disarmament under effective international control,
Appreciating a number of positive developments in the field of nuclear disarmament, in particular the intermediate-range nuclear forces agreement and the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms,
Noting that there are still significant nuclear arsenals and that the primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament, with the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons, rests with the nuclear-weapon States, in particular those which possess the largest nuclear arsenals,
Welcoming the steps that have already been taken by those States to begin the process of reducing the number of nuclear weapons and removing such weapons from a deployed status,
Noting also the new climate of relations between the United States of America and States of the former Soviet Union, which permits them to intensify their cooperative efforts to ensure the safety, security and environmentally sound destruction of nuclear weapons,
Urging that further cooperation be undertaken to accelerate the implementation of agreements and unilateral decisions relating to nuclear disarmament and nuclear-arms reductions,
Welcoming also the reductions made by other nuclear-weapon States in some of their nuclear-weapon programmes, and encouraging all nuclear-weapon States to consider appropriate measures relating to nuclear disarmament,
Affirming that bilateral and multilateral negotiations on disarmament should facilitate and complement each other,
1. Expresses its satisfaction at the continued implementation of the treaty that was concluded between the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the elimination of their intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, in particular at the completion by the parties of the destruction of all their declared missiles subject to elimination under the treaty;
2. Welcomes the signing of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in Moscow on 31 July 1991, and the accompanying protocol that was signed in Lisbon on 23 May 1992, and urges the parties to take the steps necessary to bring this Treaty and the accompanying protocol into force at the earliest possible date;
3. Also welcomes the unilateral decisions announced by the President of the United States of America and similar unilateral steps announced by the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and subsequently by the President of the Russian Federation to reduce significantly the size and nature of nuclear deployments worldwide, to eliminate certain nuclear weapons and to enhance stability;
4. Further welcomes the Joint Understanding on Further Reductions in Strategic Offensive Arms between the United States of America and the Russian Federation that was announced in Washington on 17 June 1992, and urges that the early conversion of this Joint Understanding into a formal treaty be completed;
5. Encourages the United States of America, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to continue their cooperative efforts aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons and strategic offensive arms on the basis of existing agreements, and welcomes the contributions that other States are making to such cooperation as well;
6. Further encourages and supports the Russian Federation and the United States of America in their efforts to reduce their nuclear armaments and to continue to give these efforts the highest priority in order to contribute to the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons;
7. Invites the Russian Federation and the United States of America to keep other States Members of the United Nations duly informed of progress in their discussions and in the implementation of their strategic offensive arms agreements and unilateral decisions.
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 46/36 L of 9 December 1991 entitled "Transparency in armaments",
Continuing to take the view that an enhanced level of transparency in armaments contributes greatly to confidence-building and security among States and that the establishment of the Register of Conventional Arms, contained in the annex to resolution 46/36 L, constitutes an important step forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters, Welcoming the Secretary-General's report on the technical procedures and adjustments to the annex to resolution 46/36 L necessary for the effective operation of the Register and on the modalities for its early expansion, Welcoming also the guidelines and recommendations for objective information on military matters as adopted by consensus in the Disarmament Commission, Welcoming further the report of the Conference on Disarmament on its agenda item entitled "Transparency in armaments", 1. Declares its determination to ensure the effective operation of the Register of Conventional Arms as provided for in paragraphs 7, 9 and 10 of its resolution 46/36 L; 2. Endorses the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General's report on the technical procedures and adjustments to the annex to the above-mentioned resolution necessary for the effective operation of the Register; 3. Notes the suggestions offered in the report as a first step in the consideration of modalities for early expansion of the Register; 4. Calls upon all Member States to provide the requested data and information to the Secretary-General by 30 April annually, beginning in 1993; 5. Encourages Member States to inform the Secretary-General of their national arms import and export policies, legislation and administrative procedures, both as regards authorization of arms transfers and prevention of illicit transfers, in conformity with paragraph 18 of its resolution 46/36 L; 6. Reaffirms its request to the Secretary-General to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development with the assistance of a group of governmental experts convened in 1994 on the basis of equitable geographical representation; 7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient resources are made available for the United Nations Secretariat to operate and maintain the Register;
8. Encourages the Conference on Disarmament to continue its work undertaken in response to the requests contained in paragraphs 12 to 15 of resolution 46/36 L;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on progress made in implementing the present resolution to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session;
10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
