Report of the First Committee
Rapporteur: Mr. Virgilio A. Reyes (Philippines)
1. The item entitled “Israeli nuclear armament” was included in the provisional agenda of the forty-third session in accordance with General Assembly resolution 42/44 of 30 November 1987.
2. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 23 September 1988, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include the item in its agenda and to allocate it to the First Committee.
3. At its 2nd meeting, on 12 October, the First Committee decided to hold a general debate on the disarmament items allocated to it, namely, items 51 to 69, 139, 141 and 145. The deliberations on those items took place at the 3rd to 25th meetings from 17 October to 2 November (see A/C.1/43/PV.3-25). Consideration of and action on draft resolutions on those items took place between 3 and 18 November (see A/C.1/43/PV.26-43).
4. In connection with item 69, the First Committee had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on Israeli nuclear armament (A/43/693);
(b) Letter dated 30 March 1988 from the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-Generals transmitting the text of the final communiqué of the Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, “Session of Islamic Solidarity with the Uprising of the Palestinian People”, held at Amman, Jordan, from 3 to 7 Sha’ban A.H. 1408 (21-25 March 1988) (A/43/273-S/19720);
(c) Letter dated 6 June 1988 from the Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the texts of the final communiqué reports and resolutions adopted by the Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, “Session on Islamic Solidarity with the Uprising of the Palestinian People" held at Amman from 3 to 7 Sha’ban A.H. 1408 (21-25 March 1988) (A/43/393-S/19930);
(d) Letter dated 29 September 1988 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the text of the final documents adopted by the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Nicosia from 5 to 10 September 1988 (A/43/667-S/20212);
(e) Letter dated 6 October 1988 from the Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting the text of the final communiqué of the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the forty-third session of the General Assembly held in New York on 3 October 1988 (A/43/709).
II. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.1/43/L.6
5. On 28 October, 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.1/43/L.6), which was introduced by the representative of Jordan on behalf of the Group of Arab States at the 29th meeting on 7 November.
6. At its 37th meeting, on 15 November, the Committee voted on draft resolution A/C.1/43/L.6 a s follows:
(a) The sixth preambular paragraph was adopted by a recorded vote of 77 to 19, with 32 abstentions. The voting was as follows: 1/
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Ham, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.
Against: Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America .
Abstaining: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Swaziland, Togo, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire.
1/ Subsequently the delegation of Bolivia indicated that it had intended to abstain.
(b) The ninth preambular paragraph was adopted by a recorded vote of 69 to 21, with 35 abstentions. The voting 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, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia.
Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Samoa, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Abstaining: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Spain, Suriname, Swaziland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire.
(c) Operative paragraph 2 was adopted by a recorded vote of 79 to 19, with 28 abstentions. The voting 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, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, 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.
Against: Austria, Belgium. Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Abstaining: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Samoa, Swaziland, Togo, Uruguay, Zaire.
(d) Operative paragraph 5 was adopted by a recorded vote of 71 to 24, with 31 abstentions. The voting was as follows: 2/
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Hungary, India. Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia.
Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America.
Abstaining: Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Jamaica, Lesotho, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Samoa, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zambia.
2/ Subsequently the delegation of Liberia indicated that it had intended to abstain.
(e) Operative paragraph 6 was adopted by a recorded vote of 72 to 23, with 32 abstentions. The voting was as follows: 3/
In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia. German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia.
Against: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France. Germany, Federal Republic of, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United States of America.
Abstaining: Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Swaziland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zaire, Zambia.
3/ Subsequently the delegation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland indicated that it had intended to vote against.
(f) Draft resolution A/C.1/43/L.6, as a whole, was adopted by a recorded vote of 87 to 2, with 45 abstentions (see para. 7). The voting 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, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, 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.
Against: Israel, United States of America.
Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malta, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Zaire.
III. RECOMMENDATION OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
7. The First Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:
The General Assembly,
Bearing in mind its previous resolutions on Israeli nuclear armament, the latest of which is 42/44 of 30 November 1987,
Recalling its resolution 42/28 of 30 November 1987, in which, inter alia, it called for placing all nuclear facilities in the region under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East,
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 that only Israel has been specifically called upon by the Security Council to place 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,
Taking into consideration resolution GC (XXXII)/RES/487 of 23 September 1988 adopted by he General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which the General Conference strongly condemned the continued refusal by Israel to renounce the possession of nuclear weapons and to submit all its nuclear facilities to the Agency’s safeguards in compliance with Security Council resolution 487 (1981),
Deeply alarmed by the information with regard to the continuing production, development and acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel,
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 that the declared Israeli policy of attacking and destroying nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes is a part of its nuclear armament policy,
1. Reiterates its condemnation of Israel’s refusal to renounce any possession of nuclear weapons;
2. Reiterates also its condemnation of the co-operation between Israel and South Africa;
3. Requests once more the Security Council to take urgent and effective measures to ensure that Israel complies with Council resolution 487 (1981);
4. Demands once more that Israel place all its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards;
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. Reiterates its request to the International Atomic Energy Agency to suspend any scientific co-operation with Israel that could contribute to its nuclear capabilities;
7. Requests also the International Atomic Energy Agency to inform the Secretary-General of any steps Israel may take to place its nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to follow closely Israeli nuclear activities and to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth sessions;
9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth session the item entitled “Israeli nuclear armament”.
