The resolution was approved almost unanimously.
The UN first Committee on disarmament and international security almost unanimously approved a resolution proposed by Russia to strengthen and develop the system of treaties and agreements on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, Interfax reports.
The document was supported by 174 countries, including the United States, five countries abstained from voting-Colombia, Georgia, Palau, Sudan and Ukraine. No country voted against the resolution.
The document, sponsored by Russia, China, Syria, Belarus, Angola, Bolivia, Burundi, Venezuela, Cambodia, Cuba, Nicaragua, contains a “call to continue efforts to strengthen the system of treaties and agreements on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation and its preservation integrity and effectiveness to maintain global stability and international peace and security”.
The text also emphasizes “the paramount importance of the full and rigorous implementation, strengthening and development of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements”.
“The full implementation by Member States of the existing treaties and agreements to which they are parties (…) contribute to improving relations between states and strengthening the existing system of such treaties and agreements, as well as international peace and security,” the document says.
The resolution requested the UN Secretary-General “to continue to provide the assistance that may be required to protect the integrity of the arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements and to strengthen the system of such treaties and agreements”.
The adopted resolution will be discussed later in December at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at a general political discussion of the UN General Assembly, said that “approval of the resolution would be an important contribution to creating the conditions for the successful holding of the next review conference on the implementation of the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) next year.”