DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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66/23. African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
By this annual resolution, the General
Assembly recalled with satisfaction the
entry into force of the African Nuclear-
Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty)
in 2009 and called upon African States that
had not yet done so to sign and ratify it as
soon as possible.
First Committee. After joining the
consensus on the draft resolution, India
stated that it respected the sovereign choice of non-nuclear-weapon States to establish
nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the
States of the region concerned. India conveyed its unambiguous assurance that it
would respect the status of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone.
Spain, which had also joined the consensus, said that the entry into force of
the Treaty of Pelindaba was an important contribution to strengthening international
peace and security. Spain expressed its support for the Treaty’s aims, adding that it
was prepared to help the States parties acquire sufficient capacities for its effective
implementation in their respective territories. After studying the invitation to become
party to Protocol III of the Treaty, Spain decided not to sign the Treaty. The Treaty
of Pelindaba did not contain disarmament and non-proliferation provisions that Spain
had not already adopted with respect to Spanish territory. Spain had been militarily
nuclear-free since 1976 and had therefore taken all the steps required to enable the
Treaty to be fully implemented throughout its national territory.
Although Spain had joined the consensus on the draft resolution, it did not
support that consensus on paragraph 4 of the draft resolution. It called on the sponsors
to hold transparent consultations in good faith to arrive at more balanced language,
especially with respect to that particular paragraph.
66/25. Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the
region of the Middle East
In this annual resolution, the General
Assembly once again called upon all countries of
the region that had not yet done so, pending the
establishment of the zone, to agree to place all
their nuclear activities under International Atomic
Energy Agency safeguards. It also requested
the Secretary-General to continue to pursue
consultations with the States of the region and
Introduced by: Nigeria, on behalf of the
States Members of the United Nations that are
members of the Group of African States (14 Oct.)
GA vote: w/o vote (2 Dec.)
1st Cttee vote: w/o vote (27 Oct.)
For text and sponsors, see Yearbook,
Part I, pp. 12-13.
Introduced by: Egypt (24 Oct.)
GA vote: w/o vote (2 Dec.)
1st Cttee vote: w/o vote (26 Oct.)
For text and sponsors, see Yearbook,
Part I, pp. 18-21.
other concerned States and to seek their views on the measures outlined in the study
annexed to his report of 10 October 1990 or other relevant measures.
First Committee. Israel stated that it joined the consensus on the draft
resolution, notwithstanding its ongoing substantive reservations. It remained
committed to a Middle East free of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as
well as ballistic missiles. Such a vision could be addressed only within the regional
context, based on the free will of States of the region. The essential preconditions for