A/RES/43/70
73rd plenary meeting
7 December 1988
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 also 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 the obligation of all States, in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations, to refrain from the threat or use of force, including in
their space activities,
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,
Noting 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, 38/70 of
15 December 1983, 39/59 of 12 December 1984, 40/87 of 12 December 1985, 41/53
of 3 December 1986 and 42/33 of 30 November 1987 and the relevant paragraphs
of the Political Declaration adopted by the Eighth Conference of Heads of
State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to
6 September 1986,
Recognizing the importance and urgency of preventing an arms race in
outer space and the readiness of all States to contribute to that common
objective,
Gravely concerned at the danger posed to all mankind by an arms race in
outer space and, in particular, by the impending threat of the exacerbation of
the current state of insecurity by developments that could further undermine
international peace and security and retard the pursuit of general and
complete disarmament,
Encouraged by the widespread interest expressed by Member States in the
course of 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 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 at 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,
Noting also that in 1988 the Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention of an
Arms Race in Outer Space, taking into account its previous efforts since its
establishment, undertook the examination and identification of various issues,
existing agreements and existing proposals, as well as future initiatives
relevant to the prevention of an arms race in outer space, and that this
contributed to a better understanding of a number of problems and to a clearer
perception of the various positions,
Convinced that additional measures should be examined in the search for
effective and verifiable bilateral and multilateral agreements in order to
prevent an arms race in outer space,
Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing
arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, and with
the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space,
Emphasizing also the necessity of maintaining the effectiveness of
relevant existing treaties, and in this context reaffirming the vital
importance of strict compliance with the Treaty on the Limitation of
Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems,
Recognizing that bilateral negotiations between the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and the United States of America could facilitate the
multilateral negotiations for the prevention of an arms race in outer space in
accordance with paragraph 27 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special
Session,
Noting the importance in this context of bilateral negotiations between
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America that
have continued since 1985, including at their summit meetings in Washington
and Moscow on a complex of questions concerning space and nuclear arms,
Hopeful that concrete results would emerge from these negotiations as
soon as possible,
Emphasizing the mutually complementary nature of bilateral and
multilateral efforts in the field of preventing an arms race in outer space,
Taking note of that part of the report of the Conference on Disarmament
relating to this question,
Welcoming the re-establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee on the Prevention
of an Arms Race in Outer Space during the 1988 session of the Conference on
Disarmament, in the exercise of the negotiating responsibilities of this sole
multilateral negotiating body on disarmament, to continue to examine and to
identify, through substantive and general consideration, issues relevant to
the prevention of an arms race in outer space,
1. 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;
2. Recognizes, as stated in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the
Conference on Disarmament, that the legal regime applicable to outer space by
itself does not guarantee the prevention of an arms race in outer space, that
this legal regime plays a significant role in the prevention of an arms race
in that environment, the need to consolidate and reinforce that regime and
enhance its effectiveness, and the importance of strict compliance with
existing agreements, both bilateral and multilateral;
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 international 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 a multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the
prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects;
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 outer space
in all its aspects, taking into account all relevant proposals and
initiatives, including those presented in the Ad Hoc Committee at the 1988
session of the Conference and at the forty-third session of the General
Assembly;
8. Further requests the Conference on Disarmament to re-establish an
ad hoc committee with an adequate mandate at the beginning of its 1989
session, with a view to undertaking negotiations for the conclusion of an
agreement or agreements, as appropriate, to prevent an arms race in outer
space in all its aspects;
9. Urges the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States
of America to pursue intensively their bilateral negotiations in a
constructive spirit aimed at reaching early agreement for preventing an arms
race in outer space, and to advise the Conference on Disarmament periodically
of the progress of their bilateral sessions so as to facilitate its work;
10. Calls upon all States, especially those with major space
capabilities, to refrain, in their activities relating to outer space, from
actions contrary to the observance of the relevant existing treaties or to the
objective of preventing an arms race in outer space;
11. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of
the prevention of an arms race in outer space submitted in accordance with
resolution 42/33 of 30 November 1987;
12. Requests the Conference on Disarmament to report on its
consideration of this subject to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth
session;
13. 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 forty-third session;
14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth
session the item entitled "Prevention of an arms race in outer space".
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