Resolution 53/74
(December 4, 1998)
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
East".
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.
Sources: The United Nations |