A/RES/38/70
15 December 1983
Meeting no. 97
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-six 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, have undertaken, 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 above-mentioned 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, install such weapons on celestial bodies or
station such weapons in outer space in any other manner,
Reaffirming also 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, as well
as resolutions 37/83 of 9 December 1982 and 37/99 D of 13 December 1982,
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 could make a significant contribution to such an objective,
Taking note of the report of the Committee on Disarmament,
Noting that in the course of its session in 1983 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 which had been
considered extensively by a contact group,
Taking note of the draft Treaty on the Prohibition of the Use of Force in
Outer Space and from Space against the Earth, submitted by the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, as well as views and comments expressed during the
discussion of that draft at its thirty-eighth session,
Expressing its deep concern and disappointment that, although there was
no objection, in principle, to the establishment without delay of such a
working group, the Committee on Disarmament has not thus far been enabled to
reach agreement on an acceptable mandate for the working group during its 1983
session,
1. Reaffirms that general and complete disarmament under effective
international control warrants that outer space shall be used exclusively for
peaceful purposes and that it shall not become an arena for an arms race;
2. Emphasizes that further effective measures to prevent an arms race
in outer space should be adopted by the international community;
3. 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;
4. Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single
multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has a primary role in the
negotiation of an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention
of an arms race in all its aspects in outer space;
5. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider as a matter of
priority the question of preventing an arms race in outer space;
6. Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its
consideration of the question of the prevention of an arms race in outer space
in all its aspects, taking into account all relevant proposals, including the
consideration of the proposal referred to in the preambular part of the
present resolution;
7. Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to establish an ad
hoc working group at the beginning of its session in 1984, 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;
8. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report on its
consideration of this subject to the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth
session;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on
Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this subject by the
General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session;
10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-ninth
session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space".
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