A/RES/37/83

                                               9 December 1982



                      Prevention of an arms race in outer space



      The General Assembly,



      Inspired by the great prospects opening up before mankind as a result of

man's entry into outer space twenty-five years ago,



      Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and

use of outer space for peaceful purposes,



      Reaffirming that the exploration and use of outer space, including the

Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in

the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or

scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind,



      Reaffirming further the will of all States that the exploration and use

of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be

exclusively for peaceful purposes,



      Recalling that the States Parties to the Treaty on Principles Governing

the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including

the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, undertook in article III to carry on

activities in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and

other celestial bodies, in accordance with international law and the Charter

of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and

security and promoting international co-operation and understanding,



      Reaffirming, in particular, article IV of the said Treaty which

stipulates that States Parties to the Treaty undertake not to place in orbit

around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of

weapons of mass destruction, to install such weapons on celestial bodies, or

to station such weapons in outer space in any other manner,



      Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special

Session of the General Assembly, in which it is stated that, in order to

prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and

appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of

the Treaty,



      Recalling its resolutions 36/97 C and 36/99 of 9 December 1981,



      Gravely concerned at the danger posed to all mankind by an arms race in

outer space,



      Mindful of the widespread interest expressed by Member States in the

course of the negotiations on and following the adoption of the

above-mentioned Treaty in ensuring that the exploration and use of outer space

should be for peaceful purposes, and taking note of proposals submitted to the

General Assembly at its tenth special session, devoted to disarmament, and at

its regular sessions and to the Committee on Disarmament,



      Noting the grave concern expressed by the Second United Nations

Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space over the

extension of an arms race into outer space and the recommendations made to

the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular the General

Assembly, and also to the Committee on Disarmament,



      Convinced that further measures are needed for the prevention of an arms

race in outer space,



      Recognizing that, in the context of multilateral negotiations for

preventing an arms race in outer space, the resumption of bilateral

negotiations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United

States of America can play a positive role,



      Taking note of the report of the Committee on Disarmament,



      Noting that in the course of its session in 1982 the Committee on

Disarmament considered this subject both at its formal and informal meetings

as well as through informal consultations,



      Aware of the various proposals submitted by Member States to the

Committee on Disarmament, particularly concerning the establishment of a

working group on outer space and its draft mandate,



      Noting, in particular, the express wishes of the overwhelming majority

of members of the Committee on Disarmament for the establishment, without

delay, of a working group on outer space,



      1.  Reaffirms the will of all States that outer space shall be used

exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it shall not become an arena for an

arms race;



      2.  Declares that any use of outer space other than for exclusively

peaceful purposes runs counter to the agreed objective of general and complete

disarmament under effective international control;



      3.  Emphasizes that further effective measures to prevent an arms race

in outer space should be adopted by the international community;



      4.  Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space

capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of

outer space and to take immediate measures to prevent an arms race in outer

space;



      5.  Requests the Committee on Disarmament to consider as a matter of

priority the question of preventing an arms race in outer space;



      6.  Further requests the Committee on Disarmament to establish an ad hoc

working group on the subject at the beginning of its session in 1983, with a

view to undertaking negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement or

agreements, as appropriate, to prevent an arms race in all its aspects in

outer space;



      7.  Requests the Committee on Disarmament to report on its consideration

of this subject to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session;



      8.  Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Committee on

Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this subject by the

General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;



      9.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-eighth

session an item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space".



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