A UNITED NATIONS General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/RES/54/50 23 December 1999 Fifty-fourth session Agenda item 72 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY [on the report of the First Committee (A/54/559)] 54/50. 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 weapon 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 the 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, nondiscriminatory guidelines, 99-77719 /...