Resolution 43/65
(December 7, 1988)
Since Israel had been
advocating the adoption of measures to remove the Middle East from the
nuclear arms race, it had no objections to the following resolution
which was adopted without a vote. Israel's traditional approach to the
issue of nuclear weapons was that it will not be the first nation to
introduce such weapons to the Middle East. Text:
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 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 and 42/28 of 30 November 1987
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,
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 all their nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy
Agency safeguards and to declare their support for the establishment
of the zone and 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 also 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 at its thirty-fifth
session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
region of 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 region of the
Middle East,
Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East,
Having examined the report of the Secretary-General,
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;
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. Invites those
countries, 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;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. Extends its thanks to the Secretary-General for his report containing the views of
parties concerned regarding the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free
zone in the region of the Middle East;
7. Takes note of the
above-mentioned report;
8. Requests the
Secretary-General to undertake a study on effective and verifiable
measures which would facilitate the establishment of a
nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, taking into account the
circumstances and characteristics of the Middle East, as well as the
views and the suggestions of the parties of the region, and to submit
this study to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session;
9. Requests parties of
the region to submit to the Secretary-General their views and
suggestions with respect to the measures called for in paragraph 8
above;
10. Requests the
Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its
forty-fourth session a progress report on the implementation of the
present resolution;
11. Decides to include
in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session the item
entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
region of the Middle East."
Sources: The United Nations |