Resolution 55/36
(November 20, 2000)
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind its relevant resolutions,
Taking note of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General
Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the latest of which
is resolution GC(44)/RES/28, adopted on 22 September 2000,
Cognizant that the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the region
of the Middle East would pose a serious threat to international peace
and security,
Mindful of the immediate need for placing all nuclear facilities
in the region of the Middle East under full-scope safeguards of the International
Atomic Energy Agency,
Recalling the decision on principles and objectives for nuclear
non-proliferation and disarmament adopted by the 1995 Review and Extension
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons of 11 May 1995, 1/ in which the Conference urged universal
adherence to the Treaty as an urgent priority and called upon all States
not yet parties to the Treaty to accede to it at the earliest date, particularly
those States that operate unsafeguarded nuclear facilities,
Recognizing with satisfaction that, in the Final Document of the
2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons, 2/ the Conference undertook to make determined
efforts towards the achievement of the goal of universality of the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 3/ and called upon
those remaining States not parties to the Treaty to accede to it, thereby
accepting an international legally binding commitment not to acquire nuclear
weapons or nuclear explosive devices and to accept International Atomic
Energy Agency safeguards on all their nuclear activities, and underlined
the necessity of universal adherence to the Treaty and of strict compliance
by all parties with their obligations under the Treaty,
Recalling the resolution on the Middle East adopted by the 1995
Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons on 11 May 1995, 4/ in which the Conference noted
with concern the continued existence in the Middle East of unsafeguarded
nuclear facilities, reaffirmed the importance of the early realization
of universal adherence to the Treaty and called upon all States in the
Middle East that had not yet done so, without exception, to accede to
the Treaty as soon as possible and to place all their nuclear facilities
under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,
Noting that Israel remains the only State in the Middle East that
has not yet become party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons,
Concerned about the threats posed by the proliferation of nuclear
weapons to the security and stability of the Middle East region,
Stressing the importance of taking confidence-building measures,
in particular the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle
East, in order to enhance peace and security in the region and to consolidate
the global non-proliferation regime,
Emphasizing the need for 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, inviting
the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons, and pending the establishment of the zone, to agree
to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy
Agency safeguards,
Noting that one hundred and sixty States have signed the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 5/ including a number of States in the
region,
1. Welcomes the conclusions on the Middle East of the 2000 Review
Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons; 6/
2. Reaffirms the importance of Israel's accession to the Treaty
on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons3 and placement of all its
nuclear facilities under comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency
safeguards, in realizing the goal of universal adherence to the Treaty
in the Middle East;
3. Calls upon that State to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation
of Nuclear Weapons without further delay and not to develop, produce,
test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons, and to renounce possession
of nuclear weapons, and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities
under full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as an important
confidence-building measure among all States of the region and as a step
towards enhancing peace and security;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly
at its fifty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution;
5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth
session the item entitled "The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle
East".
69th plenary meeting
20 November 2000
1/ 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part
I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I)), annex, decision 2.
2/ 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vols. I-III
(NPT/CONF.2000/28 (Parts I-IV)).
3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.
4/ See 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, Part I (NPT/CONF.1995/32 (Part I)), annex.
5/ See resolution 50/245.
6/ See 2000 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Final Document, vol. I (NPT/CONF.2000/28
(Parts I and II)), part I, art. VII, para. 16.
Sources: The United Nations |