(Resolution adopted at the eighth plenary session, Held on May 23, 1992)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

RECALLING:

Its decision, as contained in the Santiago Commitment, to initiate a process of consultation on hemispheric security in light of the new conditions in the region and the world, from an updated and comprehensive perspective of security and disarmament, including the subject of all forms of proliferation of conventional weapons and instruments of mass destruction, so that the largest possible volume of resources may be devoted to the economic and social development of the member states, and to make an appeal to other competent organizations in the world to join in the efforts of the OAS;

Its resolution AG/RES. 1121 (XXI-0/91) and AG/RES. 1123 (XXI-0/91) for the strengthening of peace and security in the hemisphere, and AG/RES. 1062 (XX-0/90) against clandestine arms traffic;

The exchange of correspondence between the Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS and the President of the United Nations Security Council on the role of regional organizations in the promotion of international peace and security (CP/INF.3241, February 25, 1992);

RECOGNIZING:

That the strengthening of peace and security in the hemisphere is an essential purpose of the OAS and that economic and social development and. cooperation among its member states are fundamental to its achievement;

That peace is not merely the absence of war, but that interdependence and cooperation to foster economic and social development, disarmament, arms control and limitations, human rights, the strengthening of democratic institutions, protection of the environment and the improvement of the quality of life for all are indispensable elements for the establishment of peaceful and more secure democratic societies;

That the Latin American and Caribbean democratic countries are among the least armed and militarized in the world;

That member states should fulfill their obligations in relation to disarmament, arms control and limitation prevent all forms of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, avoid excessive or destabilizing accumulations and transfers of conventional arms and resolve peacefully, in accordance with the OAS and UN charters, any problems concerning matters or disrupting the maintenance of regional and global security;

That all forms of proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction threaten international security, aggravate the risks of increasing conflicts in regions of tension and endanger the environment;

That the regulation of the international exchange of dual-use goods and technologies should take into consideration the need for legitimate to such goods and technologies for peaceful purposes;

That the member states have, in accordance with the charter of the OAS and the Charter of the UN, the right to maintain armed forces for individual and collective self-defense;

COMMENDING:

The strenuous efforts undertaken by member states towards the structural adjustment of their economies with a view to contribute to a greater of the regional and world economies, notably by the adoption of trade and investment liberalization measures, more austere fiscal and monetary policies, and deregulation;

The important Contribution of the Treaty of Tlatelolco and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to safeguard hemispheric security and stability and to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the region;

The contributions to regional disarmament, arms control and limitation by nations of the hemisphere, notably in the 1974 Declaration of Ayacucho; the 1987 Esquipulas Accords; the ongoing Central American efforts to negotiate regional security arrangements; the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty; the 1990 U.S. Soviet Union Chemical Weapons Destruction Agreement; the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty; the Iguazu Falls Declaration of November 1990; the Mendoza Declaration of September 1991 and the Argentina/Brazil/IAEA/ABACC Quadrilateral Safeguards Agreement of December 1991; the 1991 Declaration of Cartagena of the Presidents of the Andean Group, and the Declaration of Guadalajara, which constitute exemplary initiatives of historic leadership from countries of the region; and

TAKING NOTE of the report and work of the Permanent Council Working Group on Cooperation for Hemispheric Security,

RESOLVES:

1. To recognize the opportunity and the need for increased dialogue on and cooperation in security matters, among the nations of the hemispheric in light of the new international situation.

2. To express the commitment of the organization to effectively contribute to the efforts being made at the international level towards the strengthening of peace and security.

3. To reaffirm that, according to the OAS Charter and to International Law an essential purpose of the Organization of American States is to prevent possible causes of difficulties and to ensure the pacific settlement of disputes that may arise among the member states.

4. To reaffirm further the urgent need for intensifying the common struggle and cooperative action against extreme poverty to help reduce economic and social inequalities in the hemisphere, and thereby strengthen the, promotion and consolidation of democracy in the region.

5. To accept as a guiding principle of regional disarmament, arms control and limitation policies, the requirement to enhance security and stability at the lowest possible levels of forces consistent with defense requirements and international commitments.

6.To urge all member states to:

1. promote the progressive liberalization of trade and the expansion of investments, access to scientific and technological knowledge, and the reduction of the foreign debt of the countries of the, region;
2. support integration processes in the hemisphere;
3. contribute to the protection of our environment by all, for the benefit of present and future generations, with a view to ensuring integral and sustainable development in the region;
4. increase technical cooperation and encourage a transfer of technology to enhance the capabilities for economic growth of the countries in the region;
5. adopt and implement appropriate measures to prevent and combat the illicit use and production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and traffic therein;
6. support the efforts in the framework. of the United Nations well as: negotiations at the Conference on Disarmament contributing to the overall objective of general and. complete disarmament under effective international control;
7. adhere or reaffirm adherence, as appropriate, to the Treaty of Tlatelolco, the 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use chemical and biological, weapons, the Biological and- Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC), and to become original parties to a Chemical Weapons; Convention now being negotiated in the framework of the Conference on Disarmament;
8. prevent all forms of proliferation of weapons of mass, destruction and of missiles capable of delivering them, by the adoption of appropriate export controls on dual use and. technologies duly taking into account their legitimate use for peaceful purposes;
9. exchange information about their national policies, laws and procedures governing the transfer of conventional arms and dual use technologies, materials and equipment which could be, used in nuclear, chemical biological or missile weapons programs;
10. maintain only such military capabilities as are necessary for self-defense and fulfillment of international commitment, consistent with their Constitutions, laws and the principles and purposes of the OAS and UN Charters;
11. exercise restraint in conventional arms transfers with a view to preventing excessive or destabilizing arms buildups;
12. prevent, in the exercise of their jurisdiction, the transfer of arms to persons, groups or organizations seeking to destabilize the governments or to violate the rule of law by way of terrorism or other wise;
13. prevent the use of their national territory for actions by persons, groups or organizations seeking to destabilize governments;
14. support and adopt, as appropriate, confidence-building measures pertaining to conventional armed forces, such as prior notification of and invitation of observers to certain major military activities, timely exchange of relevant information and improved communications;
15. support efforts to put into effect the United Nations arms register as provided for in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/36 L;
16. support openness and transparency by providing the United Nations with standardized information on military expenditure as recently reaffirmed in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/25; and
17. to submit information and data, as agreed by the States Parties to the Biological Weapons Convention at the 1991 Review Conference of that Convention.

7. To continue to examine and study the special security problems and economic needs of small states of the hemisphere with a view to lessening their degree of vulnerability in areas of disaster relief, human resource development, arms smuggling, narco-trafficking and other such areas which could militate against their security and economic development.

8. To note with satisfaction the decision announced by France to ratify the Additional Protocol I to the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and to express its deep interest in the prompt implementation of this decision.

9. To call on all states, whether in this hemisphere or beyond, to contribute to the advancement of global security by adhering to such measures as called for in this resolution.

10. To continue its consideration of this question at its twenty-third regular session.

11. To transmit this resolution to the Secretary -General of the United Nations.