Declaration and establishment of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia

XXIX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
3265. Declaration and establishment of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia

A

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1378 (XIV) of 20 November 1959, which established the goal of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Convinced that the highest priority should be accorded to measures in the field of nuclear disarmament, Recalling its resolutions 1652 (XVI) of 24 November 1961 entitled "Consideration of Africa as a denuclearized zone", 1911 (XV,III) of 27 November 1963 entitled "Denuclearization of Latin America", 2033 (XX) of 3 December 1965 entitled "Declaration on the denuclearization of Africa" and 2286 (XXII) of 5 December 1967 entitled "Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America", Recognizing that conditions and procedures for the creation of such zones differ from region to region, Recognizing further that, in appropriate regions and by agreement among the States concerned, the creation of nuclear-weapon-free zones could promote the cause of general and complete disarmament under effective international control, Considers, therefore, that the initiative for the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the appropriate region of Asia should come from the States of the region concerned, taking into account its special features and geographical extent. 2309th plenary meeting
9 December 1974

B

The General Assembly, Recognizing the right of States to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and as an instrument of development and progress, Realizing, at the same time, the dangers of diversion to military purposes inherent in the development of nuclear energy, Recalling its resolution 2456 13 (XXIII) of 20 December 1968 concerning the establishment of zones free from nuclear weapons, Expressing the conviction that the establishment of such zones in various regions of the world is one of the measures which can contribute most effectively to halting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promoting progress towards nuclear disarmament as a step towards general and complete disarmament under effective international control, with the ultimate goal of total destruction of all nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, Believing that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones will strengthen the security of regional States against nuclear threat, Recalling the Antarctic Treaty of 1959[1] the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in 1964[2] and the Declaration adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations in 1971, Bearing in mind that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone would, inter alia, entail:

(a) Commitments by the States concerned to use exclusively for peaceful purposes nuclear materials and facilities under their jurisdiction and to prevent the testing, use, manufacture, production, acquisition or storage of any nuclear weapons or nuclear launching devices,

(b) An equitable and non-discriminatory system of verification and inspection to ensure that nuclear programmes are in conformity with the foregoing commitments,

(c) Undertakings by nuclear-weapon States not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against the States of the region,

Having considered the question of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia without prejudice to the extension of the zone to include such other regions of Asia as may be practicable, Desirous of preventing such a zone or any wider area as contemplated in the preceding paragraph from becoming involved in a ruinous nuclear arms race, Considering that the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America[3] could serve as a model to be emulated with advantage by other regions,

1. Takes note of the affirmation by the States of the region not to acquire or manufacture nuclear weapons and to devote their nuclear programmes exclusively to the economic and social advancement of their peoples;

2. Endorses, in principle, the concept of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;

3. Invites the States of the South Asian region and such other neighbouring non-nuclear-weapon States as may be interested to initiate, without delay, necessary consultations with a view to establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone and urges them, in the interim, to refrain from any action contrary to the achievement of these objectives;

4. Expresses the hope that all States, in particular the nuclear-weapon States, will lend their full cooperation for the effective realization of the aims of the present resolution;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to convene a meeting for the purpose of the consultations envisaged in paragraph 3 above, to render such assistance as may be required for the purpose and to report on the subject to the General Assembly at its thirtieth session;

6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirtieth session the item entitled "Declaration and establishment of a nuclear-free zone in South Asia".

2309th plenary meeting
9 December 1974

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[1] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 402, No. 5778, p. 72. [2] See Official Records of the General A ssenibly, Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 105, document A/5975. [3] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068, p. 326.