Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 54
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Recalling that at its tenth special session, the first special
session devoted to disarmament, it unanimously stressed the importance
of both qualitative and quantitative measures in the process of
disarmament,
Recognizing that scientific and technological developments
can have both civilian and military applications and that progress
in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be
maintained and encouraged,
Noting with concern the potential in technological advances
for application to military purposes, which could lead to more
sophisticated weapons and new weapons systems,
Stressing the interests of the international community
in the subject and the need to follow closely the scientific and
technological developments that may have a negative impact on
the security environment and on the process of arms limitation
and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments
for beneficial purposes,
Emphasizing that the proposal contained in its resolution
43/77 A of 7 December 1988 is without prejudice to research and
development efforts being undertaken for peaceful purposes,
Expressing regret that the Disarmament Commission was unable
to develop guidelines from its deliberations under its agenda
item entitled "The role of science and technology in the
context of international security, disarmament and other related
fields", 1/
Convinced that genuine non-proliferation can only be achieved
when transfer of high technology with military applications is
in accordance with universally accepted, multilaterally negotiated,
non-discriminatory legal treaties,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General entitled
"Scientific and technological developments and their impact
on international security" 2/ submitted in pursuance of General
Assembly resolution 48/66 of 16 December 1993;
2. Fully agrees with the assessment that the application
of new technologies for a qualitative improvement of weapons systems
was seen as detracting from the efforts to reduce and eliminate
the existing arsenals; 3/
3. Requests the Secretary-General to follow scientific
and technological developments and to make a relevant assessment
in keeping with the criteria presented to the General Assembly
at its forty-fifth session 4/ and to submit a report to the Assembly
at its fiftieth session;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to develop a database
of concerned research institutions and experts with a view to
promoting transparency and international cooperation in the applications
of the scientific and technological developments for pursuing
disarmament objectives such as disposal of weapons, conversion
and verification, among others;
5. Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General
their views and assessments;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Scientific and technological
developments and their impact on international security".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
_________
1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 42 (A/49/42), para. 22 (para. 6 of the quoted text).
2/ A/49/502.
3/ Ibid., para. 7.