News

                                                       A/RES/39/59

                                                       12 December 1984

                                                       Meeting no. 97



                      Prevention of an arms race in outer space



        The General Assembly,



        Inspired by the great prospects opening up before mankind as a result

    of man's entry into outer space,



        Recognizing the common interest of all mankind in the exploration and

    use of outer space for peaceful purposes,



        Reaffirming that the exploration and use of outer space, including the

    Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and

    in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic

    or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind,



        Reaffirming further the will of all States that the exploration and

    use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall

    be for peaceful purposes,



        Recalling that the States parties to the Treaty on Principles

    Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer

    Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, have undertaken, in

    article III, to carry on activities in the exploration and use of outer

    space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, in accordance with

    international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest

    of maintaining international peace and security and promoting

    international co-operation and understanding,



        Reaffirming, in particular, article IV of the above-mentioned Treaty,

    which stipulates that States parties to the Treaty undertake not to place

    in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any

    other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on

    celestial bodies or station such weapons in outer space in any other

    manner,



        Reaffirming also paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth

    Special Session of the General Assembly, in which it is stated that, in

    order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be

    taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with

    the spirit of the Treaty,



        Recalling its resolutions 36/97 C and 36/99 of 9 December 1981, as

    well as resolutions 37/83 of 9 December 1982, 37/99 D of 13 December 1982,

    and 38/70 of 15 December 1983,



        Gravely concerned at the danger posed to all mankind by an arms race

    in outer space, in particular the impending danger of exacerbating the

    current state of insecurity by developments that could further undermine

    international peace and security,



        Mindful of the widespread interest expressed by Member States in the

    course of the negotiations on and following the adoption of the

    above-mentioned Treaty in ensuring that the exploration and use of outer

    space should be for peaceful purposes, and taking note of proposals

    submitted to the General Assembly at its tenth special session, devoted to

    disarmament, and at its regular sessions and to the Conference on

    Disarmament,



        Noting the grave concern expressed by the Second United Nations

    Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space over the

    extension of an arms race into outer space and the recommendations made to

    the competent organs of the United Nations, in particular the General

    Assembly, and also to the Committee on Disarmament,



        Convinced that further measures are needed for the prevention of an

    arms race in outer space,



        Recognizing that, in the context of multilateral negotiations for

    preventing an arms race in outer space, bilateral negotiations between the

    Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America could

    make a significant contribution to such an objective, in accordance with

    paragraph 27 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session,



        Deeply regretting that bilateral negotiations between the Union of

    Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America on the

    prevention of an arms race in outer space have not taken place,



        Taking note of the report of the Conference on Disarmament relating to

    this question,



        Aware of the various proposals submitted by Member States to the

    Conference on Disarmament, particularly concerning the establishment of an

    ad hoc committee on the prevention of an arms race in outer space and its

    draft mandate, which had been considered extensively by a contact group

    and through informal consultations and by formal and informal meetings of

    the Conference on Disarmament,



        Expressing its deep concern and disappointment that, although there

    was no objection, in principle, to the establishment without delay of such

    an ad hoc committee, the Conference on Disarmament has not thus far been

    enabled to reach agreement on a mandate for the ad hoc committee during

    its 1984 session,



        1.    Recalls the obligation of all States to refrain from the threat

        or use of force in their space activities;



        2.    Reaffirms that general and complete disarmament under effective

        international control warrants that outer space shall be used

        exclusively for peaceful purposes and that it shall not become an

        arena for an arms race;



        3.    Emphasizes that further measures with appropriate and effective

        provisions for verification to prevent an arms race in outer space

        should be adopted by the international community;



        4.    Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space

        capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful

        use of outer space and to take immediate measures to prevent an arms

        race in outer space in the interest of maintaining international peace

        and security and promoting internatinal co-operation and

        understanding;



        5.    Reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single

        multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in

        the negotiation of an agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the

        prevention of an arms race in all its aspects in outer space;



        6.    Requests the Conference on Disarmament to consider as a matter

        of priority the question of preventing an arms race in outer space;



        7.    Also requests the Conference on Disarmament to intensify its

        consideration of the question of the prevention of an arms race in all

        its aspects, in outer space, taking into account all relevant

        proposals, including those submitted at the thirty-ninth session of

        the United Nations General Assembly;



        8.    Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to establish an

        ad hoc committee at the beginning of its session in 1985, with a view

        to undertaking negotiations for the conclusion of an agreement or

        agreements, as appropriate, to prevent an arms race in all its aspects

        in outer space;



        9.    Urges the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United

        States of America to initiate immediately and in a constructive spirit

        negotiations aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space and to

        advise the Conference on Disarmament regularly of the progress of

        their bilateral negotiations so as to facilitate its work;



        10.    Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report on its

        consideration of this subject to the General Assembly at its fortieth

        session;



        11.    Requests the Secretary-General to transmit to the Conference on

        Disarmament all documents relating to the consideration of this

        subject by the General Assembly at its thirty-ninth session;



        12.    Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fortieth

        session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space".



.