9 December 1981

Conclusion on a treaty on the prohibition of the stationing of weapons of any kind in outer space

The General Assembly,

Guided by the goals of strengthening peace and international security, Expressing the common interest of all mankind in furthering the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes for the good of all States and in the interests of developing friendly relations and mutual understanding between them,

Conscious of the danger which would threaten mankind if outer space became an arena for the arms race,

Desiring not to allow outer space to become an arena for the arms race and a source of strained relations between States,

Taking into account the draft Treaty on the Prohibition of the Stationing of Weapons of Any Kind in Outer Space, submitted to the General Assembly by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the views and comments expressed during the consideration of that item at the thirty-sixth session,

1. Considers it necessary to take effective steps, by concluding an appropriate international treaty, to prevent the spread of the arms race to outer space;

2. Requests the Committee on Disarmament to embark on negotiations with a view to achieving agreement on the text of such a treaty;

3. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session the item entitled "Conclusion of a treaty on the prohibition of the stationing of weapons of any kind in outer space".