United Nations Security Council Resolution 984
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
984, adopted unanimously on April 11, 1995, the Council gave assurances to non-nuclear weapon
states that were parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) against the threat of nuclear proliferation
.
The Security Council stated that every effort should be made to avoid the danger of nuclear war
, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to facilitate international cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy
and to promote the importance of the NPT. It recognised the interest of countries without nuclear weapons to receive security assurances, and that the current resolution was a step in this direction.
The permanent members of the Council (all of which possessed nuclear weapons) had given security assurances to non-nuclear countries that were part of the NPT, the first time this had occurred. The Security Council recognised the need to give assurances to non-nuclear waepons states, and that the permanent members of the Council will act, according to relevant provisions in the Charter of the United Nations, in the event that a country is threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. It also recognised that the permanent member states would bring such incidents to the attention of the Security Council. Assistance would be given in any case, with investigations and appropriate measures to settle disputes and restore international peace and security. Measures would also be taken to provide technical, medical, scientific or humanitarian assistance
in response to any requests from an affected country. Additionally, appropriate measures would be recommended with regard to compensation after instances of aggression and the intention of some countries to provide immediate assistance to an affected country was welcomed by the Council.
All countries were requested, as provided in Article VI of the NPT, to negotiate measures for disarmament
and a treaty on complete disarmament under international control. It also reaffirmed the right, under Article 51 of the Charter, to self-defense
if a country was attacked.
Under Resolution 984, France
, Russia
, the United Kingdom
and United States
would, on condition not use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state party to the NPT except in an attack on them; only China
's assurances not to use nuclear weapons were unconditional.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
984, adopted unanimously on April 11, 1995, the Council gave assurances to non-nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
states that were parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to...
(NPT) against the threat of nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
.
The Security Council stated that every effort should be made to avoid the danger of nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
, to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to facilitate international cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and to promote the importance of the NPT. It recognised the interest of countries without nuclear weapons to receive security assurances, and that the current resolution was a step in this direction.
The permanent members of the Council (all of which possessed nuclear weapons) had given security assurances to non-nuclear countries that were part of the NPT, the first time this had occurred. The Security Council recognised the need to give assurances to non-nuclear waepons states, and that the permanent members of the Council will act, according to relevant provisions in the Charter of the United Nations, in the event that a country is threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. It also recognised that the permanent member states would bring such incidents to the attention of the Security Council. Assistance would be given in any case, with investigations and appropriate measures to settle disputes and restore international peace and security. Measures would also be taken to provide technical, medical, scientific or humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
in response to any requests from an affected country. Additionally, appropriate measures would be recommended with regard to compensation after instances of aggression and the intention of some countries to provide immediate assistance to an affected country was welcomed by the Council.
All countries were requested, as provided in Article VI of the NPT, to negotiate measures for disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
and a treaty on complete disarmament under international control. It also reaffirmed the right, under Article 51 of the Charter, to self-defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
if a country was attacked.
Under Resolution 984, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
would, on condition not use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state party to the NPT except in an attack on them; only China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's assurances not to use nuclear weapons were unconditional.
See also
- International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
- List of states with nuclear weapons
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 901 to 1000 (1994 – 1995)
- Nuclear energy policyNuclear energy policyNuclear energy policy is a national and international policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclear energy, such as mining for nuclear fuel, extraction and processing of nuclear fuel from the ore, generating electricity by nuclear power, enriching and storing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel...
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 255United Nations Security Council Resolution 255United Nations Security Council Resolution 255, adopted on June 19, 1968, after a large number of states began to subscribe to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons the Council recognized that aggression with nuclear weapons or the threat of it against a non-nuclear-weapon state...
(1968)