United Nations General Assembly A/RES/59/62 Distr.: General 17 December 2004 Fifty-ninth session Agenda item 61 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2004 [on the report of the First Committee (A/59/455)] 59/62. Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament The General Assembly, Recognizing that scientific and technological developments can have both civilian and military applications and that progress in science and technology for civilian applications needs to be maintained and encouraged, Concerned that military applications of scientific and technological developments can contribute significantly to the improvement and upgrading of advanced weapons systems and, in particular, weapons of mass destruction, Aware of the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments that may have a negative impact on international security and disarmament, and to channel scientific and technological developments for beneficial purposes, Cognizant that international transfers of dual-use as well as high-technology products, services and know-how for peaceful purposes are important for the economic and social development of States, Also cognizant of the need to regulate such transfers of dual-use goods and technologies and high technology with military applications through multilaterally negotiated, universally applicable, non-discriminatory guidelines, Expressing its concern about the growing proliferation of ad hoc and exclusive export control regimes and arrangements for dual-use goods and technologies, which tend to impede the economic and social development of developing countries, Recalling that in the Final Document of the Thirteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Kuala Lumpur from 20 to 25 February 2003, 1 and in the Final Document of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban, South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004, it was again noted with concern that undue restrictions on exports to developing countries of material, equipment and technology for peaceful purposes persisted, _______________ 1 04-47998 A/57/759-S/2003/332, annex I.