The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 3265 B (XXIX) of 9 December 1974, 3476 B (XXX) of 11 December 1975, 31/73 of 10 December 1976, 32/83 of 12 December 1977, 33/65 of 14 December 1978, 34/78 of 11 December 1979, 35/148 of 12 December 1980, 36/88 of 9 December 1981, 37/76 of 9 December 1982, 38/65 of 15 December 1983, 39/55 of 12 December 1984, 40/83 of 12 December 1985, 41/49 of 3 December 1986, 42/29 of 30 November 1987, 43/66 of 7 December 1988, 44/109 of 15 December 1989, 45/53 of 4 December 1990 and 46/31 of 6 December 1991 concerning the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia,
Reiterating its conviction that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in various regions of the world is one of the measures that can contribute effectively to the objectives of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and general and complete disarmament,
Believing that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia, as in other regions, will assist in the strengthening of the security of the States of the region against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,
Taking note with appreciation of the declarations issued at the highest level by Governments of South Asian States that are developing their peaceful nuclear programmes, reaffirming their undertaking not to acquire or manufacture nuclear weapons and to devote their nuclear programmes exclusively to the economic and social advancement of their peoples,
Welcoming the recent proposal for the conclusion of a bilateral or regional nuclear-test-ban agreement in South Asia,
Taking note of the proposal to convene, under the auspices of the United Nations, a conference on nuclear non-proliferation in South Asia as soon as possible, with the participation of the regional and other concerned States,
Taking note also of the proposal to hold consultations among five nations with a view to ensuring nuclear non-proliferation in the region,
Considering that the eventual participation of other States as appropriate in this process could be useful,
Bearing in mind the provisions of paragraphs 60 to 63 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly regarding the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, including in the region of South Asia,
Taking note further of the report of the Secretary-General,
1. Reaffirms its endorsement, in principle, of the concept of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;
2. Urges once again the States of South Asia to continue to make all possible efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia and to refrain, in the meantime, from any action contrary to that objective;
3. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States that have not done so to respond positively to this proposal and to extend the necessary cooperation in the efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to communicate with the States of the region and other concerned States in order to ascertain their views on the issue and to promote consultations among them with a view to exploring the best possibilities of furthering the efforts for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia;
5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report on the subject to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session;
6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia".
81st plenary meeting
9 December 1992
