Establishment of an African nuclear-weapon-free zone, G.A. res. 49/138, 49 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 87, U.N. Doc. A/49/49 (1994).


Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 72

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly,


Bearing in mind the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa Official Records of the General Assembly, Twentieth Session, Annexes, agenda item 105, document A/5975. adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its first ordinary session, held at Cairo from 17 to 21 July 1964, in which they solemnly declare their readiness to undertake, through an international agreement to be concluded under United Nations auspices, not to manufacture or acquire control of atomic weapons,

Recalling its resolutions 1652 (XVI) of 24 November 1961 and 48/86 of 16 December 1993, its earliest and latest on the subject, as well as all its previous resolutions on the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa,

Desirous of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of paragraphs 60 to 63 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, Resolution S-10/2.

Calling upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone,

Bearing in mind the provisions of resolutions CM/Res.1342 (LIV) See A/46/390, annex I. and CM/Res.1395 (LVI) Rev.1 See A/47/558, annex I. on the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its fifty-fourth and fifty-sixth ordinary sessions, held at Abuja from 27 May to 1 June 1991 and at Dakar from 22 to 28 June 1992, respectively,

Taking note of resolution CM/Res.1529 (LX) on the implementation of an African nuclear-weapon-free-zone treaty adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixtieth ordinary session, held at Tunis from 6 to 11 June 1994, See A/49/313, annex I.

Recalling resolution GC (XXXVIII)/RES/17 on an African nuclear-weapon- free zone, adopted on 23 September 1994 by the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, A/49/550, annex II.

Welcoming the progress made at the fourth and fifth meetings of the Group of Experts to Prepare a Draft Treaty on an African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone set up jointly by the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations, held at Windhoek from 16 to 25 March 1994 and at Addis Ababa from 11 to 14 May 1994, respectively,

1. Takes note of the report of the fourth and fifth meetings of the Group of Experts to Prepare a Draft Treaty on an African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone; A/49/436, annex.

2. Notes the South African Government's offer of South Africa as the seat of the African commission on nuclear energy once it is established;

3. Reaffirms that the implementation of the Declaration on the Denuclearization of Africa adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity would be an important measure to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security;

4. Welcomes with satisfaction the announcement by Algeria of its decision to deposit its instruments of accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485.

5. Strongly renews its call upon all States to consider and respect the continent of Africa and its surrounding areas as a nuclear-weapon-free zone;

6. Takes note of the report of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Agency's verification activities in South Africa; See A/49/550.

7. Commends the Secretary-General for the diligence with which he has rendered effective assistance to the Organization of African Unity in organizing the meetings of the above-mentioned Group of Experts;

8. Encourages the African States to continue their commendable efforts towards the finalization of the drafting of an African nuclear-weapon- free-zone treaty;

9. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity, to take appropriate action to enable the Group of Experts designated by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity to meet jointly with the Intergovernmental Group of Experts of the Organization of African Unity early in 1995 at Pretoria in order to finalize the drafting of a treaty on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa, and to submit the text of the treaty to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session under the item entitled "Final text of a treaty on an African nuclear-weapon-free zone".

92nd plenary meeting
19 December 1994


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