The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 3263 (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3474 (XXX) of
11 December 1975, 31/71 of 10 December 1976, 32/82 of 12 December 1977, 33/64
of 14 December 1978, 34/77 of 11 December 1979, 35/147 of 12 December 1980,
36/87 A and B of 9 December 1981, 37/75 of 9 December 1982, 38/64 of 15
December 1983, 39/54 of 12 December 1984, 40/82 of 12 December 1985, 41/48 of
3 December 1986, 42/28 of 30 November 1987, 43/65 of 7 December 1988, 44/108
of 15 December 1989, 45/52 of 4 December 1990, 46/30 of 6 December 1991, 47/48
of 9 December 1992, 48/71 of 16 December 1993, 49/71 of 15 December 1994 and
50/66 of 12 December 1995 on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone
in the region of the Middle East,
 
      Recalling also the recommendations for the establishment of such a zone
in the Middle East consistent with paragraphs 60 to 63, and in particular
paragraph 63 (d), of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the
General Assembly,
 
      Emphasizing the basic provisions of the above-mentioned resolutions,
which call upon all parties directly concerned to consider taking the
practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to
establish a nuclear-weapon- free zone in the region of the Middle East and,
pending and during the establishment of such a zone, to declare solemnly that
they will refrain, on a reciprocal basis, from producing, acquiring or in any
other way possessing nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices and from
permitting the stationing of nuclear weapons on their territory by any third
party, to agree to place their nuclear facilities under International Atomic
Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment of
the zone and to deposit such declarations with the Security Council for
consideration, as appropriate,
 
      Reaffirming the inalienable right of all States to acquire and develop
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,
 
      Emphasizing the need for appropriate measures on the question of the
prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities,
 
      Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly since its
thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in
the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security,
 
      Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can
be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East,
 
      Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament,
including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the
establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including
nuclear weapons,
 
      Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle East, which should be of a
comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate framework for the peaceful
settlement of contentious issues in the region,
 
      Recognizing the importance of credible regional security, including the
establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone,
 
      Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the
establishment of a mutually verifiable nuclear-weapon-free zone,
 
      Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of resolution 50/66,
 
      1.    Urges all parties directly concerned to consider seriously taking
the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal
to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in
accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a
means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere
to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;
 
      2.    Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so,
pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear
activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;
 
      3.    Takes note of resolution GC(40)RES/22, adopted on 20 September
1996 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency at
its fortieth regular session, concerning the application of Agency safeguards
in the Middle East;
 
      4.    Notes the importance of the ongoing bilateral Middle East peace
negotiations and the activities of the multilateral Working Group on Arms
Control and Regional Security in promoting mutual confidence and security in
the Middle East, including the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone;
 
      5.    Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of
a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their
support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the
Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, and to
deposit those declarations with the Security Council;
 
      6.    Also invites those countries, pending the establishment of the
zone, not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or
permit the stationing on their territories, or territories under their
control, of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices;
 
      7.    Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render
their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to
refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of
the present resolution;
 
      8.    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;
 
      9.    Invites all parties to consider the appropriate means that may
contribute towards the goal of general and complete disarmament and the
establishment of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the region of
the Middle East;
 
      10.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pursue consultations
with the States of the region and other concerned States, in accordance with
paragraph 7 of resolution 46/30 and taking into account the evolving situation
in the region, and to seek from those States their views on the measures
outlined in chapters III and IV of the study annexed to his report or other
relevant measures, in order to move towards the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East;
 
      11.   Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-second session a report on the implementation of the
present resolution;
 
      12.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
region of the Middle East".