Israeli nuclear armament – First Cttee report

ISRAELI NUCLEAR ARMAMENT

Report of the First Committee

Rapporteur:  Mr. Doulaye Corentin KI (Burkina Paso)

I.  INTRODUCTION

1. In a letter dated 10 October 1986 addressed to the Secretary-General (A/41/242), the Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations, as Chairman of the Group of Arab States, requested the inclusion of an additional item, entitled "Israeli nuclear armament", in the agenda of the forty-first session of the General Assembly.

2. At its 36th plenary meeting, on 14 October 1986, the General Assembly decided, on the recommendation of the General Committee, to include the item in its agenda and to refer it to the First Committee.

3. At its 2nd meeting, on 8 October, the First Committee decided to hold a general debate on the items concerning disarmament and then to hear statements on specific agenda items concerning disarmament and to continue the general debate, if necessary.  The discussion of those items, namely, items 46 to 65 and item 144, took place from the 3rd to the 32nd meetings, from 13 October to 4 November (see A/C.1/41/PV.3 to 32).

4. With respect to item 144, the First Committee had before it the letter referred to in paragraph 1 above.

II. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.1/41/L.23

5. On 29 October 1986, Algeria, Bahrain, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen submitted a draft resolution entitled "Israeli nuclear armament" (A/C.1/41/L.23).  The draft resolution was introduced by the representative of Iraq at the 29th meeting, on 3 November.

6. At its 40th meeting, on 11 November, the Committee proceeded to vote on draft resolution A/C.1/41/L.23.  The vote was recorded and the result was as follows:

(a) Operative paragraph 3 was adopted by 89 votes to 23, with 19 abstentions. The vote was recorded and the result was as follows:

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Gabon, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malawi, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Samoa, Spain, Uruguay.

(b) Operative paragraph 4 was adopted by 79 votes to 27, with 21 abstentions. The vote was recorded and the result was as follows.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Greece, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.

(c) Operative paragraph 5 was adopted by 79 votes to 27, with 20 abstentions. The vote was recorded and the result was as follows:

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia,

Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Zaire.

Abstaining:

Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Lesotho, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.

(d) Operative paragraph 6 was adopted by 81 votes to 21, with 25 abstentions. The vote was recorded end the result was as follows:

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cube, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Guatemala, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Uruquay.

(e) The draft resolution as a whole was adopted by 92 votes to 2, with 42 abstentions (see para. 7) . The vote was recorded and the result was as follows:

In favour:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan. Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Federal Republic of, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Samoa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zaire.

III.  RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE

7. The First Committee recommends the following draft resolution for adoption by the General Assembly:

Israeli nuclear armament

The General Assembly,

Bearing in mind its previous resolutions on Israeli nuclear armament, the latest of which is 40/93 of 12 December 1985,

Recalling resolution 40/82 of 12 December 1985, in which, inter alia, it called upon all countries of the region that had not done so, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,

Recalling further Security Council resolution 487 (1981) of 19 June 1981 in which, inter alia, the Council called upon Israel urgently to place all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards,

Noting with grave concern Israel's persistent refusal to commit itself not to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons, despite repeated calls by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and to place its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards,

Aware of the grave consequences that endanger international peace and security as a result of Israel's development and acquisition of nuclear weapons and Israel's collaboration with South Africa to develop nuclear weapons and their delivery systems,

Deeply concerned over the continuing development and acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel,

1. Reiterates its condemnation of Israel's refusal to renounce any possession of nuclear weapons;

2. Requests once more the Security Council to take urgent and effective measures to ensure that Israel complies with Security Council resolution 487 (1981) and places all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;

3. Reiterates its request to the Security Council to investigate Israel's nuclear activities and the collaboration of other States, parties and institutions in the nuclear field;

4. Reiterates its request to the International Atomic Energy Agency to suspend any scientific co-operation with Israel which could contribute to its nuclear capabilities;

5. Calls upon all States and organizations that have not yet done so to discontinue co-operating with and giving assistance to Israel in the nuclear field;

6. Reaffirms its condemnation of the continuing nuclear collaboration between Israel and South Africa;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to follow closely Israeli nuclear activities in the light of the latest available information, to update the study on Israeli nuclear armament 1/ and submit it to the General Assembly at its forty-second session;

8. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-second session the item entitled "Israeli nuclear armament".

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1/ A/36/431.