9 December 1981

United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 33/4 of 2 November 1978, 34/63 of 29 November 1979 and 35/112 of 5 December 1980, by which it decided to convene in 1983 the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy,

Reaffirming the principles and provisions of its resolution 32/50 of 8 December 1977 on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for economic and social development,

Stressing in particular the relevance of the principles set forth in paragraph 1 of resolution 32/50 for the preparation of the Conference and for the Conference itself,

Recalling also the relevant paragraphs of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, the first special session devoted to disarmament,

Recalling further the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency set out in General Assembly resolution 34/63,

Recognizing the increasing significance of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for economic and social development, in particular its important role in accelerating the development of the developing countries,

Reaffirming the responsibility of States that are advanced in the nuclear field to promote the legitimate nuclear energy needs of the developing countries by participating in the fullest possible transfer of nuclear equipment, materials and technology under agreed and appropriate international safeguards applied through the International Atomic Energy Agency on a non-discriminatory basis in order to prevent effectively the proliferation of nuclear weapons,

Expressing its conviction that the Conference, through the promotion of international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, should contribute greatly to meeting the increasing energy and other requirements of many countries, particularly developing ones,

Further expressing its conviction that progress in the work of the Committee on Assurances of Supply will greatly contribute to the success of the Conference,

Stressing the need for timely and adequate preparations for the Conference,

Having considered the report of the Preparatory Committee for the Conference,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy;

2. Endorses the recommendations of the Preparatory Committee contained in the annex to its report;

3. Decides that the Conference shall be held at Geneva from 29 August to 9 September 1983;

4. Considers that the outcome of the Conference should be embodied in suitable documents, in an appropriate format, pertaining, inter alia, to ways and means of promoting international co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy;

5. Recognizes that the Preparatory Committee, in order that it may advance its work, including as appropriate the preparation of the documents referred to in paragraph 4 above for submission to and approval by the Conference, may need to extend the duration of its second session, to be held at Vienna in 1982, and also to hold a further session of appropriate duration in 1982;

6. Reaffirms its decision, as embodied in paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 35/112, to take account of the results of the Committee on Assurances of Supply;

7. Requests the President of the General Assembly to finalize the appointment of the members of the Preparatory Committee, in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical representation, not later than 30 April 1982;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary arrangements for the establishment, at the appropriate time, of a small secretariat for the Conference, to be headed by a Secretary-General of the Conference;

9. Urges all States to contribute to the successful preparation of the Conference by, inter alia, making available, in conformity with international obligations, information on their scientific and technological achievements and practical experiences in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy;

10. Calls upon all States which have not yet done so to communicate to the Secretary-General, not later than 30 April 1982, their views on the matters relevant to the preparation and organization of the Conference;

11. Invites the International Atomic Energy Agency to fulfil its appropriate role within the scope of its responsibilities at all stages of preparation of the Conference, and during the Conference itself, by contributing to the discussion of relevant issues, by providing technical data and documentation as needed, particularly in relation to the progress of the work of the Committee on Assurances of Supply, and by participating in the secretariat of the Conference;

12. Further invites specialized agencies and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system to contribute effectively to the preparations for the Conference by, inter alia, making available studies, reports and other appropriate documents concerning the applications of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as the results and future prospects of such applications;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Preparatory Committee all the communications received from Member States and to assist the Committee by providing it with all necessary facilities for its work;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session an item entitled "Preparation of the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy: report of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference for the Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy".