UN General Assembly Resolution

                                               A/RES/43/65

                                               73rd plenary meeting

                                               7 December 1988



 Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East



      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 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

 and 42/28 of 30 November 1987 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 all their nuclear facilities under International

 Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the

 establishment of the zone and 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 also 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 at its

 thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in

 the region of 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 region of the

 Middle East,



      Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment

 of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East,



      Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,



      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.   Invites those countries, 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;



      4.   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;



      5.   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;



      6.   Extends its thanks to the Secretary-General for his report

 containing the views of parties concerned regarding the establishment of a

 nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East;



      7.   Takes note of the above-mentioned report;



      8.   Requests the Secretary-General to undertake a study on effective and

 verifiable measures which would facilitate the establishment of a

 nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, taking into account the

 circumstances and characteristics of the Middle East, as well as the views and

 the suggestions of the parties of the region, and to submit this study to the

 General Assembly at its forty-fifth session;



      9.   Requests parties of the region to submit to the Secretary-General

 their views and suggestions with respect to the measures called for in

 paragraph 8 above;



      10.  Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at

 its forty-fourth session a progress report on the implementation of the

 present resolution;



      11.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth

 session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the

 region of the Middle East".



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