Resolution 57/55
(November 22, 2002)
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,
52/34 of 9 December 1997, 53/74 of 4 December 1998, 54/51 of 1 December
1999, 55/30 of 20 November 2000 and 56/21 of 29 November 2001 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 resolution 56/21, 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(46)/RES/16, adopted
on 20 September 2002 by the General Conference of the International
Atomic Energy Agency at its forty-sixth regular session, concerning
the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East; 4
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, 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, 1 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 of 10 October 1990 5 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-eighth session a report on the implementation
of the present resolution;
12. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of
its fifty-eighth session the item entitled "Establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East".
57th plenary meeting
22 November 2002
Notes
1/ Resolution S-10/2.
2/ A/57/214 and Add.1 and 2.
3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
4/ See International Atomic Energy Agency, Resolutions and Other Decisions
of the General Conference, Forty-sixth Regular Session, 16–20
September 2002 (GC(46)/RES/DEC(2002)).
5/ A/45/435.
Sources: The United Nations |