The General Conference,

(a) Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 48/70 of 16 December 1993, in which the entire international community, for the first time, supported the commencement of multilateral negotiations on a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,

(b) Reaffirming that a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is one of the highest priority objectives of the international community in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation,

(c) Reaffirming that a universal and internationally and effectively verifiable Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty should contribute to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in all its aspects, to the ultimate goals of the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, and therefore to the enhancement of international peace and security,

(d) Reaffirming the conviction that the exercise of utmost restraint in respect of nuclear testing would be consistent with the negotiation of a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, as reaffirmed in United Nations General Assembly resolution 49/70 of 5 December 1994, and recalling the undertaking of the nuclear-weapon States in this regard as well as all the Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament adopted by the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference,

(e) Recalling the important mandate and role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting non-proliferation and also nuclear safety,

(f) Recalling Article III.B. 1 of the Agency's Statute, which states that in carrying out its functions the Agency shall "Conduct its activities in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations to promote peace and international co-operation, and in conformity with policies of the United Nations furthering the establishment of safeguarded worldwide disarmament and in conformity with any international agreements entered into pursuant to such policies", and

(g) Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolution 49/65 of 15 December 1994 on the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in which the General Assembly inter alia urged all States to strive for effective and harmonious co-operation in promoting the use of nuclear energy and the application of necessary measures to strengthen further the safety of nuclear installations and to minimize the risks to life. health and the environment,

1. Expresses grave concern at the resumption and the continuation of nuclear testing and calls upon those States which have active nuclear testing programmes in place to desist from testing until a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty enters into force;

2. Calls upon all States, particularly those with nuclear weapons programmes, to take further effective steps toward fulfilling their obligations as regards nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons;

3. Expects that the negotiations for a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty will be completed and the Treaty signed in 1996 as may be further specified by the Fiftieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and urges all participants in the negotiations to further intensify their efforts to this end;

4. Affirms that cessation of nuclear testing would contribute to the successful conclusion of a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and to the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament;

5. Recognizes that nuclear testing raises serious concerns about the risks to life, health and the environment;

6. Calls on all States concerned to fulfil their responsibilities to ensure that sites where nuclear tests have been conducted are monitored scrupulously, and to take appropriate steps to avoid adverse impacts on health, safety and the environment, as a consequence of such nuclear testing;

7. Requests all States concerned to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of any adverse impact on health, safety and the environment as a consequence of such nuclear testing as necessary to assist the Agency to discharge its functions under the Statute; and

8. Calls for co-operation between the States concerned and the International Atomic Energy Agency in accordance with its Statute in the implementation of the two preceding paragraphs.

22 September 1995 Agenda item 7 GC(39)/OR.10, para. 7