The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolutions 3265 B (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3476 B (XXX)
of 11 December 1975, 31/73 of 10 December 1976, 32/83 of 12 December 1977,
33/65 of 14 December 1978, 34/78 of 11 December 1979, 35/148 of 12 December
1980, 36/88 of 9 December 1981, 37/76 of 9 December 1982, 38/65 of 15 December
1983, 39/55 of 12 December 1984, 40/83 of 12 December 1985, 41/49 of 3
December 1986, 42/29 of 30 November 1987, 43/66 of 7 December 1988, 44/109 of
15 December 1989, 45/53 of 4 December 1990, 46/31 of 6 December 1991, 47/49 of
9 December 1992, 48/72 of 16 December 1993, 49/72 of 15 December 1994 and
50/67 of 12 December 1995 concerning the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia,
 
      Reiterating its conviction that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free
zones in various regions of the world is one of the measures that can
contribute effectively to the objectives of non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons and general and complete disarmament,
 
      Believing that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South
Asia, as in other regions, will assist in the strengthening of the security of
the States of the region against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,
 
      Taking note with appreciation of the declarations issued at the highest
level by the Governments of South Asian States that are developing their
peaceful nuclear programmes, reaffirming their undertaking not to acquire or
manufacture nuclear weapons and to devote their nuclear programmes exclusively
to the economic and social advancement of their peoples,
 
      Welcoming the proposal for the conclusion of a bilateral or regional
nuclear- test-ban agreement in South Asia,
 
      Noting the proposal to convene, under the auspices of the United
Nations, a conference on nuclear non-proliferation in South Asia as soon as
possible, with the participation of the regional and other concerned States,
 
      Noting the proposal to hold consultations among five nations with a view
to ensuring nuclear non-proliferation in the region,
 
      Considering that the eventual participation of other States, as
appropriate, in this process could be useful,
 
      Bearing in mind the provisions of paragraphs 60 to 63 of the Final
Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly regarding the
establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, including in the region of South
Asia,
 
      Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,
 
      1.    Reaffirms its endorsement, in principle, of the concept of a
nuclear- weapon-free zone in South Asia;
 
      2.    Urges once again the States of South Asia to continue to make all
possible efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia and to
refrain, in the meantime, from any action contrary to that objective;
 
      3.    Welcomes the support of all the five nuclear-weapon States for
this proposal, and calls upon them to extend the necessary cooperation in the
efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;
 
      4.    Requests the Secretary-General to communicate with the States of
the region and other concerned States in order to ascertain their views on the
issue and to promote consultations among them with a view to exploring the
best possibilities of furthering the efforts for the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;
 
      5.    Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the subject to
the General Assembly at its fifty-second session;
 
      6.    Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second
session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in
South Asia".