Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 62
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind resolutions CM/Res.1153 (XLVIII) of 1988 1/
and CM/Res.1225 (L) of 1989, 2/ 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, 3/
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, 4/
Considering its resolution 2602 C (XXIV) of 16 December
1969, in which it requested the Conference of the Committee on
Disarmament, 5/ 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,
6/ 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, in particular for the
security of developing countries,
Recalling its resolutions 43/75 Q of 7 December 1988, 44/116
R of 15 December 1989, 45/58 K of 4 December 1990, 46/36 K of
6 December 1991, 47/52 D of 9 December 1992 and 48/75 D of 16
December 1993,
Desirous of promoting the implementation of paragraph 76
of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General
Assembly, 7/
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; 8/
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 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 fiftieth
session the progress recorded in the 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
fiftieth session the item entitled "Prohibition of the dumping
of radioactive wastes".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 45/62 A of 4 December 1990, by
which it adopted the text of the Declaration of the 1990s as the
Third Disarmament Decade and declared the 1990s as the Third Disarmament
Decade,
Noting the great changes in international relations that
have occurred since the adoption of the Declaration in 1990,
Noting in particular the end of the cold war and bipolar
rivalries between the East and the West, thus heralding a new
era of cooperation in international relations,
Alarmed, nevertheless, at the outbursts of ethnic and nationalist
conflicts as well as disturbing issues in arms control and disarmament
in different parts of the world and the consequent deterioration
in security situations in these areas, with negative implications
for international peace and security,
Convinced of the need to review and assess the achievement
of the objectives of the Declaration and, if need be, to adapt
them to meet the new challenges of the post-cold-war era,
1. Decides to undertake, at its fiftieth session, the middle
of the Decade, a review and appraisal of the implementation of
the Declaration of the 1990s as the Third Disarmament Decade;
2. Requests the Disarmament Commission, at its 1995 session,
to make a preliminary assessment of the implementation of the
Declaration as well as suggestions that may be put forward to
ensure appropriate progress, and to submit a report to the General
Assembly at its fiftieth session;
3. Also requests the Disarmament Commission to include
in the agenda of its 1995 substantive session an item entitled
"Review of the Declaration of the 1990s as the Third Disarmament
Decade";
4. Calls upon the Disarmament Commission to include in
its assessment relevant matters which, in the view of Member States,
require such review;
5. Requests Member States to submit to the Secretary-General
their views and suggestions on such a review no later than 30
April 1995;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to give all necessary
assistance to the Disarmament Commission in implementing the present
resolution;
7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session an item entitled "Review of the Declaration
of the 1990s as the Third Disarmament Decade".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 46/36 L of 9 December 1991, 47/52
L of 15 December 1992 and 48/75 E of 16 December 1993 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 United Nations
Register of Conventional Arms 9/ constitutes an important step
forward in the promotion of transparency in military matters,
Welcoming the consolidated report of the Secretary-General
on the Register, 10/ which includes the returns of Member States
for 1993,
Welcoming also the response of Member States to the request
contained in paragraphs 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36 L to provide
data on their imports and exports of arms, as well as available
background information regarding their military holdings, procurement
through national production and relevant policies,
Stressing that the continuing operation of the Register
and its further development should be reviewed in order to secure
a Register which is capable of attracting the widest possible
participation,
Taking note of the report of the Conference on Disarmament
on its agenda item entitled "Transparency in armaments",
11/
1. Reaffirms its determination to ensure the effective
operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
as provided for in paragraphs 7, 8, 9 and 10 of resolution 46/36
L;
2. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General of
22 September 1994 on the continuing operation of the Register
and its further development 12/ and the recommendations contained
therein;
3. Calls upon Member States to provide the requested data
and information for the Register, on the basis of resolutions
46/36 L and 47/52 L and the annex and appendices to the report
of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register
and its further development, to the Secretary-General by 30 April
annually;
4. Decides, with a view to further development of the Register,
to keep the scope of and participation in the Register under review,
and, to this end:
(a) Requests Member States to provide the Secretary-General with their views on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development and on transparency measures related to weapons of mass destruction;
(b) Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of a group of governmental experts to be convened in 1997, on the basis of equitable geographical representation, to prepare a report on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, taking into account work of the Conference on Disarmament, the views expressed by Member States and the 1994 report of the Secretary-General on the continuing operation of the Register and its further development, with a view to a decision at its fifty-second session;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that sufficient
resources are made available for the Secretariat to operate and
maintain the Register;
6. Invites the Conference on Disarmament to consider continuing
its work undertaken in the field of transparency in armaments;
7. Reiterates its call upon all Member States to cooperate
at the regional and subregional levels, taking fully into account
the specific conditions prevailing in the region or subregion,
with a view to enhancing and coordinating international efforts
aimed at increased openness and transparency in armaments;
8. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the
General Assembly at its fiftieth session on progress made in implementing
the present resolution;
9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Transparency in armaments".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling with satisfaction its resolution 48/75 K of 16
December 1993, by which it, inter alia, called upon States to
agree to a moratorium on the export of anti-personnel land-mines
that pose grave dangers to civilian populations, and urged States
to implement such a moratorium,
Noting that there are approximately 85 million or more
anti-personnel land-mines in the ground throughout the world and
that many thousands of such mines continue to be laid in an indiscriminate
manner,
Expressing deep concern that anti-personnel land-mines
kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly unarmed civilians,
obstruct economic development and reconstruction and have other
severe consequences, which include inhibiting the repatriation
of refugees and the return of internally displaced persons,
Welcoming the programmes of assistance which exist for
demining and humanitarian support for the victims of anti-personnel
land-mines,
Gravely concerned with the suffering and casualties caused
to non-combatants as a result of the proliferation, as well as
the indiscriminate and irresponsible use, of anti-personnel land-mines,
Recognizing that States can move most effectively towards
the ultimate goal of the eventual elimination of anti-personnel
land-mines as viable and humane alternatives are developed,
Recalling with satisfaction the report of the Secretary-General
13/- concerning progress on the initiative in the aforementioned
resolution,
Convinced that moratoriums by States exporting anti-personnel
land-mines that pose grave dangers to civilian populations are
important measures in helping to reduce substantially the human
and economic costs resulting from the use of such devices,
Noting with satisfaction that many States already have
declared moratoriums on the export, transfer or sale of anti-personnel
land-mines and related devices, with many of these moratoriums
being declared as a result of the aforementioned resolution,
Believing that ongoing efforts to strengthen the Convention
on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional
Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to
Have Indiscriminate Effects, 14/ particularly its Protocol II,
15/ are an important part of the overall effort to address problems
caused by anti-personnel land-mines,
Recalling with satisfaction its resolution 48/7 of 19 October
1993 calling for assistance in mine clearance,
1. Welcomes the moratoriums already declared by certain
States on the export of anti-personnel land-mines;
2. Urges States that have not yet done so to declare such
moratoriums at the earliest possible date;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a report on
steps taken by Member States to implement such moratoriums and
to submit it to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session under
the item entitled "General and complete disarmament";
4. Emphasizes the importance of the Convention on Prohibitions
or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which
May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate
Effects and its Protocols as the authoritative international instrument
governing the responsible use of anti-personnel land-mines and
related devices;
5. Urges States that have not done so to adhere to the
Convention and its Protocols;
6. Encourages further international efforts to seek solutions
to the problems caused by anti-personnel land-mines, with a view
to their eventual elimination.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind the goal of the total elimination of nuclear
weapons,
Desiring to reduce, progressively and systematically, the
threat posed by nuclear weapons,
Welcoming the respite from the intense competition in the
accumulation of weapons-grade fissile materials, in the production
of nuclear warheads and in the deployment of nuclear-weapon systems
which characterized the cold war,
Mindful that processing of special fissionable material
for weapon purposes and production of nuclear warheads continues
at a steady pace in some States, and that many thousands of nuclear-weapon
systems remain deployed at the brink of war,
Welcoming also the standing down of some nuclear-weapon
systems from full alert and the elimination of certain types of
weapons,
Mindful also that the military doctrines regarding the
threat of use of nuclear weapons remain unaltered, and that most
agreed reductions do not entail destruction of the nuclear warheads
or delivery vehicles,
Welcoming further the steps taken to increase transparency
in armaments and the emerging pattern of closing or converting
nuclear-weapon production facilities,
Mindful further of the continuing lack of internationally
verified inventories of the nuclear arsenals and that plans for
the redirection of nuclear-weapon facilities to the task of dismantlement
of the nuclear arsenals are only at an early state of development,
Wishing to further current efforts regarding multilateral
negotiations and agreements, and conscious of the urgent need
for expeditious action for this purpose,
Confident that the Conference on Disarmament can serve
as an effective multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, as
envisioned at its 1978 special session devoted to disarmament
16/ and as evidenced recently by the successful conclusion of
the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction,
17/
Persuaded that agreement upon a five- to ten-year agenda
on nuclear arms control would provide a needed overall sense of
direction to global disarmament efforts,
Convinced that the successful pursuit of such an agenda
would significantly advance the goal of the elimination of nuclear
weapons from national arsenals,
1. Identifies the following general areas for step-by-step
reduction of the nuclear threat:
Area A. Steps to counter, inter alia:
(a) The acquisition and processing of special fissionable material for nuclear-weapon purposes;
(b) The manufacture and testing of nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles;
(c) The assembly and deployment of nuclear-weapon systems; by such means as:(i)Prohibiting the test explosion of nuclear weapons;
(ii)Cutting off the production of special fissile materials for weapon purposes;
(iii)Ending production of nuclear warheads;
(iv)Ending the production and testing of intermediate- and long- range ballistic missiles for nuclear-weapon purposes;
(v)Effective, legally binding measures to deter the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons;
(vi)Other related measures;
Area B. Steps to actuate, inter alia:
(a) The withdrawal from deployment and disassembly of nuclear-weapon systems;
(b) The secure storage and dismantlement of nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles;
(c) The elimination of special fissionable materials for nuclear-weapon purposes; by such means as:(i)Standing down nuclear-weapon systems from high-alert status;
(ii)Separating nuclear warheads from their delivery vehicles;
(iii)Placing nuclear warheads in secure storage;
(iv)Converting delivery vehicles, where appropriate, to peaceful uses;
(v)Removing special nuclear materials from warheads;
(vi)Converting special nuclear materials to non-weapon purposes;
(vii)Other related measures;
Area C. Steps to prepare, under international auspices:
(a) An inventory of the nuclear arsenals, including:
(i)All special fissile materials, nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles;
(ii)All facilities devoted to the processing, manufacture, assembly and deployment of those items;(b) A reorientation of those facilities necessary to the task of implementing measures relating to area B;
(c) The closure or conversion to peaceful purposes of all other such facilities in furtherance of measures relating to area A;
2. Asks Member States, in particular the nuclear-weapon
States, to consider steps which they might take unilaterally,
bilaterally, or in cooperation with other States to promote progress
in the identified areas, and fully to inform the international
community of any steps taken in this regard;
3. Recommends to the Conference on Disarmament that in
1995 it:
(a) Develop from the three general areas identified in paragraph 1 of the present resolution a comprehensive set of practical, verifiable measures for possible negotiation in their next five- and ten-year periods;
(b) Determine from that set a year-by-year sequence and combination of negotiations on specific measures to be commenced during the next five- and ten-year periods, with due regard to steps taken pursuant to paragraph 2;
4. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to include
in its 1995 report to the General Assembly a section on efforts
undertaken in accordance with the recommendation set out in paragraph
3;
5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session an item entitled "Step-by-step reduction
of the nuclear threat".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
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,18/
Noting the provisions of article X, paragraph 2, of that
Treaty, which stipulates 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,
Desirous of ensuring the consolidation of the Treaty with
a view to achieving ultimately the elimination of nuclear weapons,
Aware of the need for the Treaty to attain universal adherence,
Convinced that the decision on the extension of the Treaty
should lead to further progress in nuclear disarmament, in accordance
with the preamble and article VI of the Treaty,
Noting, therefore, the necessity of giving careful consideration
to all possible options in order to take a decision that is appropriate
and capable of strengthening the non-proliferation regime in the
pursuit of the ultimate objective of the elimination of nuclear
weapons,
Conscious of the fact that there are various interpretations
which have been expressed concerning the application of article
X, paragraph 2, of the Treaty,
1. Calls upon States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons to give appropriate consideration to the import
of the Treaty in its entirety and with special attention to its
article X, paragraph 2;
2. Invites States parties to provide their legal interpretations
of article X, paragraph 2, of the Treaty and their views on the
different options and actions available, for compilation by the
Secretary-General as a background document of the 1995 Review
and Extension Conference of States Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, well before the holding
of that Conference.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 46/36 H of 6 December 1991, 47/52
G and 47/52 J of 9 December 1992 and 48/75 H and 48/75 J of 16
December 1993,
Considering that the circulation of massive quantities
of small arms throughout the world impedes development and is
a source of increased insecurity,
Considering also that the illicit international transfer
of small arms and their accumulation in many countries constitute
a threat to the populations and to national and regional security
and is a factor contributing to the destabilization of States,
Basing itself on the statement of the Secretary-General
relating to the request of Mali concerning United Nations assistance
for the collection of small arms,
Gravely concerned at the extent of the insecurity and banditry
linked to the illicit circulation of small arms in Mali and the
other affected States of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion,
Taking note of the first conclusions of the United Nations
Advisory Mission sent to Mali by the Secretary-General to study
the best way of curbing the illicit circulation of small arms
and ensuring their collection,
Noting the interest shown by other States of the subregion
in receiving the United Nations Advisory Mission,
Noting also the actions taken and those recommended at
the meetings of the States of the subregion held at Banjul, Algiers
and Bamako to establish close regional cooperation with a view
to strengthening security,
1. Welcomes the initiative taken by Mali concerning the
question of the illicit circulation of small arms and their collection
in the affected States of the Saharo-Sahelian subregion;
2. Also welcomes the action taken by the Secretary-General
in implementation of this initiative;
3. Thanks the Government of Mali for the appreciable help
which it has given to the United Nations Advisory Mission, and
welcomes the declared readiness of other States of the subregion
to receive the Mission;
4. Congratulates the Secretary-General on his action within
the context of the relevant provisions of resolution 40/151 H
of 16 December 1985, and encourages him to continue his efforts
to curb the illicit circulation of small arms and to collect such
arms in the affected States which so request, with the support
of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament
in Africa and in close cooperation with the Organization of African
Unity;
5. Invites Member States to implement national control
measures in order to check the illicit circulation of small arms,
in particular by curbing the illegal export of such arms;
6. Invites the international community to give appropriate
support to the efforts made by the affected countries to suppress
the illicit circulation of small arms, which is likely to hamper
their development;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General
Assembly on this issue at its fiftieth session.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that the end of the cold war has increased the
possibility of creating a world free from the fear of nuclear
war,
Welcoming the efforts of the Russian Federation and the
United States of America for nuclear disarmament and the conclusion
of the two treaties on the reduction and limitation of strategic
offensive arms, and looking forward to their early entry into
force,
Welcoming also the efforts of other nuclear-weapon States
in the field of nuclear disarmament,
Attaching great importance to the contribution which the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 18/ has made
to the peace and security of the world since its entry into force
in 1970,
Welcoming the positive developments in the negotiations
for a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty based on the consensus
achieved at its forty-eighth session,
1. Urges States not parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons to accede to it at the earliest possible date,
recognizing the importance of the universality of the Treaty;
2. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to pursue their
efforts for nuclear disarmament with the ultimate objective of
the elimination of nuclear weapons in the framework of general
and complete disarmament, and calls upon all States to implement
fully their commitments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling that three special sessions of the General Assembly
devoted to disarmament were held in 1978, 1982 and 1988,
Bearing in mind the Final Document of the Tenth Special
Session of the General Assembly, 7/ the first special session
devoted to disarmament, and the final objective of general and
complete disarmament under effective international control,
Welcoming the recent positive changes in the international
landscape, characterized by the end of the cold war, the relaxation
of tensions at the global level and the emergence of a new spirit
governing relations among nations,
Stressing the central role of the United Nations for the
promotion of disarmament, peace and security,
1. Decides, in principle, to convene, in 1997 if possible,
the fourth special session of the General Assembly devoted to
disarmament, the date to be determined at its fiftieth session;
2. Also decides to include in the provisional agenda of
its fiftieth session an item entitled "Fourth special session
of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling the provisions of the Final Document of the Tenth
Special Session of the General Assembly 7/ 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, 19/
Recalling further its resolution 48/75 A of 16 December
1993,
Bearing in mind the final documents of the Tenth Conference
of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held
at Jakarta in September 1992, 20/
Stressing the growing importance of the symbiotic relationship
between disarmament and development in current international relations,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 5 October
1994 21/ 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; 22/
3. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report
to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session;
4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Relationship between
disarmament and development".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Conscious that the continuing existence and development of
nuclear weapons pose serious risks to humanity,
Mindful that States have an obligation under the Charter
of the United Nations to refrain from the threat or use of force
against the territorial integrity or political independence of
any State,
Recalling its resolutions 1653 (XVI) of 24 November 1961,
33/71 B of 14 December 1978, 34/83 G of 11 December 1979, 35/152
D of 12 December 1980, 36/92 I of 9 December 1981, 45/59 B of
4 December 1990 and 46/37 D of 6 December 1991, in which it declared
that the use of nuclear weapons would be a violation of the Charter
and a crime against humanity,
Welcoming the progress made on the prohibition and elimination
of weapons of mass destruction, including the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of
Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction
23/ and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development,
Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their
Destruction, 17/
Convinced that the complete elimination of nuclear weapons
is the only guarantee against the threat of nuclear war,
Noting the concerns expressed in the Fourth Review Conference
of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons that insufficient progress had been made towards the complete
elimination of nuclear weapons at the earliest possible time,
Recalling that, convinced of the need to strengthen the
rule of law in international relations, it has declared the period
1990-1999 the United Nations Decade of International Law, 24/
Noting that Article 96, paragraph 1, of the Charter empowers
the General Assembly to request the International Court of Justice
to give an advisory opinion on any legal question,
Recalling the recommendation of the Secretary-General,
made in his report entitled "An Agenda for Peace", 25/
that United Nations organs that are authorized to take advantage
of the advisory competence of the International Court of Justice
turn to the Court more frequently for such opinions,
Welcoming resolution 46/40 of 14 May 1993 of the Assembly
of the World Health Organization, in which the organization requested
the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion
on whether the use of nuclear weapons by a State in war or other
armed conflict would be a breach of its obligations under international
law, including the Constitution of the World Health Organization,
Decides, pursuant to Article 96, paragraph 1, of the Charter
of the United Nations, to request the International Court of Justice
urgently to render its advisory opinion on the following question:
"Is the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any circumstance
permitted under international law?".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
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 treaty concluded on
8 December 1987 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, 26/ and the treaties 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 stockpiles,
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, and
bilateral agreements on the issue of de- targeting strategic nuclear
missiles,
Noting the new climate of relations between the United
States of America and the 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,
Noting also that the Russian Federation and the United
States of America concurred that, once their Treaty on the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was ratified,
they would proceed to deactivate all strategic delivery systems
to be reduced under the Treaty by removing their nuclear warheads
or taking other steps to remove them from alert status,
Noting further the agreement between the Russian Federation
and the United States of America to intensify their dialogue to
compare conceptual approaches and to develop concrete steps to
adapt the nuclear forces and practices on both sides to the changed
international security situation, including the possibility, after
ratification of the Treaty on the Further Reduction and Limitation
of Strategic Offensive Arms, of further reduction of and limitations
on remaining nuclear forces,
Urging the further intensification of such efforts to accelerate
the implementation of agreements and unilateral decisions relating
to nuclear-arms reduction,
Welcoming 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 nuclear disarmament should facilitate and complement each other,
1. Welcomes the actions taken towards the ratification
of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms signed in Moscow on 31 July 1991 by the former Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and the United States of America and the protocol
to that Treaty signed at Lisbon on 23 May 1992 by the four parties
thereto, and urges the parties to take the necessary steps to
ensure its entry into force at the earliest possible date;
2. Also welcomes the signing of the Treaty between the
Russian Federation and the United States of America on the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in Moscow
on 3 January 1993, and urges the parties to take the steps necessary
to bring that Treaty into force at the earliest possible date;
3. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing implementation
of the treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range
missiles, 26/ in particular at the completion by the parties of
the destruction of all their declared missiles subject to elimination
under the treaty;
4. 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;
5. 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 those efforts the highest priority
in order to contribute to the objective of the elimination of
nuclear weapons;
6. 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.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 46/36 H of 6 December 1991 and its
decision 47/419 of 9 December 1992 on international arms transfers,
Recalling also its resolutions 48/75 F and 48/75 H of 16
December 1993 on international arms transfers and measures to
curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional weapons, respectively,
Realizing the urgent need to resolve conflicts and to diminish
tensions and accelerate efforts towards general and complete disarmament
with a view to maintaining regional and international peace and
security,
Recognizing that the availability of massive quantities
of conventional weapons and especially their illicit transfer,
often associated with destabilizing activities, are most disturbing
and dangerous phenomena, particularly for the internal situation
of affected States and the violation of human rights,
Stressing the need for effective national control measures
on the transfer of conventional weapons,
Recognizing also the curbing of the illicit transfer of
arms as an important contribution to the relaxation of tension
and peaceful reconciliation processes,
Convinced that peace and security are inextricably interlinked
with and in some cases imperative for economic development and
reconstruction,
1. Invites the Disarmament Commission to:
(a) Expedite its consideration of the agenda item on international arms transfers, with special emphasis on the adverse consequences of the illicit transfer of arms and ammunition;
(b) Study measures to curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms;
2. Invites Member States to provide the Secretary-General
with relevant information on national control measures on arms
transfers with a view to preventing illicit arms transfers and,
in this context, to take immediate, appropriate and effective
measures to seek to ensure that illicit transfers of arms are
discontinued;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to:
(a) Seek the views of Member States on effective ways and means of collecting weapons illicitly transferred in interested countries, as well as on concrete proposals concerning measures at national, regional and international levels to curb the illicit transfer and use of conventional arms;
(b) Study, within the existing resources, upon request from the concerned Member States, the possibilities of the collection of weapons illicitly transferred in the light of the experience gained by the United Nations and the views expressed by Member States and to submit a report on the result of his study to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to
the Assembly at its fiftieth session on the implementation of
the present resolution;
5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Measures to curb the
illicit transfer and use of conventional arms".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 45/58 P of 4 December 1990, 46/36
I of 6 December 1991, 47/52 J of 9 December 1992 and 48/75 I of
16 December 1993 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, 7/
Taking note of the guidelines and recommendations for regional
approaches to disarmament within the context of global security
adopted by the Disarmament Commission at its 1993 substantive
session, 27/
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 also of the recent proposals for disarmament
and nuclear non-proliferation at the 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
the 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
fiftieth session the item entitled "Regional disarmament".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 48/75 J of 16 December 1993,
Recognizing the crucial role of conventional arms control
in promoting regional and international peace and security,
Convinced that conventional arms control needs to be pursued
primarily in the regional and subregional contexts since most
threats to peace and security in the post-cold-war era arise mainly
among States located in the same region or subregion,
Aware that the preservation of a balance in the defence
capabilities of States at the lowest level of armaments would
contribute to peace and stability and should be a prime objective
of conventional arms control,
Desirous of promoting agreements to strengthen regional
peace and security at the lowest possible level of armaments and
military forces,
Believing that militarily significant States, and States
with larger military capabilities, have a special responsibility
in promoting such agreements for regional security,
Believing also that one of the principal objectives of
conventional arms control should be to prevent the possibility
of military attack launched by surprise,
1. Decides to give urgent consideration to the issues involved
in conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels;
2. Requests the Conference on Disarmament, as a first step,
to consider the formulation of principles that can serve as a
framework for regional agreements on conventional arms control,
and looks forward to a report of the Conference on this subject;
3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fiftieth session the item entitled "Conventional arms control
at the regional and subregional levels".
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
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 treaty concluded on
8 December 1987 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 26/ and the treaties 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 stockpiles,
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, and
bilateral agreements on the issue of de-targeting strategic nuclear
missiles,
Noting the new climate of relations between the United
States of America and the 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,
Noting also that the Russian Federation and the United
States of America concurred that, once their Treaty on the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was ratified,
they would proceed to deactivate all strategic delivery systems
to be reduced under the Treaty by removing their nuclear warheads
or taking other steps to remove them from alert status,
Noting further the agreement between the Russian Federation
and the United States of America to intensify their dialogue to
compare conceptual approaches and to develop concrete steps to
adapt the nuclear forces and practices on both sides to the changed
international security situation, including the possibility, after
ratification of the Treaty on the Further Reduction and Limitation
of Strategic Offensive Arms, of further reductions of and limitations
on remaining nuclear forces,
Urging the further intensification of such efforts to accelerate
the implementation of agreements and unilateral decisions relating
to nuclear-arms reduction,
Welcoming the reduction 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 nuclear disarmament should facilitate and complement each other,
1. Welcomes the actions taken towards the ratification
of the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive
Arms, signed in Moscow on 31 July 1991 by the former Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, and
the protocol to that Treaty signed at Lisbon on 23 May 1992 by
the parties thereto, inter alia, the trilateral statement by the
Presidents of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States
of America signed on 14 January 1994, 28/ and urges the parties
to take the necessary steps to ensure the Treaty's entry into
force at the earliest possible date;
2. Also welcomes the signing of the Treaty between the
Russian Federation and the United States of America on the Further
Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms in Moscow
on 3 January 1993, and urges the parties to take the steps necessary
to bring that Treaty into force at the earliest possible date;
3. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing implementation
of the treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range
missiles, 26/ in particular at the completion by the parties of
the destruction of all their declared missiles subject to elimination
under the treaty;
4. 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;
5. Welcomes the accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons 18/ of Belarus and Kazakhstan as non-nuclear-weapon
States and would welcome similar action on the part of Ukraine;
6. 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 those 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.
90th plenary meeting
15 December 1994
__________
1/ See A/43/398, annex I.
2/ See A/44/603, annex I.
3/ See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other
Decisions of the General Conference, Thirty-third Regular Session,
25-29 September 1989 (GC(XXXIII)/RESOLUTIONS(1989)).
4/ Ibid., Thirty-fourth Regular Session, 17-21 September 1990
(GC(XXXIV)/RESOLUTIONS(1990)).
5/ The Conference of the Committee on Disarmament became the Committee
on Disarmament as from the tenth special session of the General
Assembly. The Committee on Disarmament was redesignated the Conference
on Disarmament as from 7 February 1984.
6/ See A/46/390, annex I.
7/ Resolution S-10/2.
8/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session,
Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.F.
9/ See resolution 46/36 L.
10/ A/49/352 of 1 September 1994 and Corr.1, and Add.1 and 2 of
4 and 17 November 1994.
11/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth
Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/49/27), sect. III.H.
12/ A/49/316.
13/ A/49/275 of 27 July 1994 and Add.1 of 31 October 1994.
14/ See The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 5: 1980
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.81.IX.4), appendix VII.
15/ Ibid., Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use
of Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices.
16/ See resolution S-10/2, para. 120.
17/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh
Session, Supplement No. 27 (A/47/27), appendix I.
18/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
19/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8.
20/ See A/47/675-S/24816, annex.
21/ A/49/476.
22/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.87.IX.8, para. 35.
23/ Resolution 2826 (XXVI), annex.
24/ Resolution 44/23.
25/ A/47/277-S/24111.
26/ United Nations Disarmament Yearbook, vol. 12: 1987 (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.88.IX.2), appendix VII.
27/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 42 (A/48/42), annex II.
28/ A/49/66-S/1994/91, annex.