******************************************************************************
This document has been posted online by the United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). Reproduction and dissemination of the
document - in electronic and/or printed format - is encouraged, provided
acknowledgement is made of the role of the United Nations in making it
available.
******************************************************************************
UNITED
NATIONS
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/53/74
4 January 1999
Fifty-third session
Agenda item 67
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[on the report of the First Committee (A/53/580)]
53/74. 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 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, 50/66 of 12 December 1995, 51/41 of 10
December 1996 and 52/34 of 9 December 1997 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, 1/
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 General Assembly resolution 52/34, 2/
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; 3/
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(42)/RES/21, adopted on 25 September
1998 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency
at its forty-second 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, 1/ 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; 2/
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 4/ 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-fourth session a report on the implementation of
the present resolution;
12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-
fourth session the item entitled -Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free
zone in the region of the Middle Eastū.
79th plenary meeting
4 December 1998
Notes
1/ Resolution S-10/2.
2/ A/53/379.
3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
4/ A/45/435.
.