A/RES/54/48 Page 2 Considering that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, especially in the Middle East, would enhance the security of Africa and the viability of the African nuclear-weapon-free zone, 1. Calls upon African States that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the African NuclearWeapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)1 as soon as possible so that it may enter into force without delay; 2. Expresses its appreciation to the nuclear-weapon States that have signed the Protocols that concern them, and calls upon those that have not yet ratified the Protocols concerning them to do so as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Treaty that have not yet done so to take all necessary measures to ensure the speedy application of the Treaty to territories for which they are, de jure or de facto, internationally responsible and which lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Treaty; 4. Calls upon the African States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons4 that have not yet done so to conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency pursuant to the Treaty, thereby satisfying the requirements of article 9 (b) of and annex II to the Treaty of Pelindaba when it enters into force, and to conclude additional protocols to their safeguards agreements on the basis of the Model Protocol approved by the Board of Governors of the Agency on 15 May 1997;5 5. Expresses its gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the diligence with which they have rendered effective assistance to the signatories to the Treaty; 6. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled “African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty”. 69th plenary meeting 1 December 1999 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. 5 International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/540 (Corrected).