Motion (by Senator Margetts) agreed to:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) that a resolution numbered L48 and titled `Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world: the need for a new agenda', will be voted on in the United Nations General Assembly in the week beginning 8 November 1998,

(ii) that the resolution recalls the unanimous conclusion of the International Court of Justice in its 1996 advisory opinion that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control,

(iii) that the resolution calls on the nuclear weapons states to demonstrate an unequivocal commitment to the speedy and total elimination of their respective nuclear weapons and without delay to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to the elimination of these weapons, thereby fulfilling their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),

(iv) that the resolution also calls on the three states that are nuclear weapons capable and that have not yet acceded to the NPT to clearly and urgently reverse the pursuit of all nuclear weapons development or deployment and to refrain from any actions which could undermine regional and international peace and security and the efforts of the international community towards nuclear disarmament and the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation,

(v) that the resolution contains a large number of other measures designed to bring about the goal of nuclear disarmament, including a call for the Russian Feder ation and the United States of America to bring START-II into force without further delay and immediately proceed thereafter with negotiations on START-III with a view to its early conclusion,

(vi) that the resolution incorporates a call for an international conference on nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, which would effectively complement efforts being undertaken in other settings and which could facilitate the consolidation of a new agenda for a nuclear-weapon-free world,

(vii) that the resolution is sponsored by Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ireland, Lesotho, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Samoa, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Swaziland, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Uruguay and Venezuala,

(viii) that the resolution is broadly consistent with the recommendations of the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, and

(ix) with concern that there are indications that Australia may not vote in favour of resolution L48; and

(b) urges the Australian Government to support this resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.