A/RES/48/71 Page 2 Emphasizing also the need for appropriate measures on the question of the prohibition of military attacks on nuclear facilities, Bearing in mind the consensus reached by the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East would greatly enhance international peace and security, Desirous of building on that consensus so that substantial progress can be made towards establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Welcoming all initiatives leading to general and complete disarmament, including in the region of the Middle East, and in particular on the establishment therein of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, Emphasizing further the essential role of the United Nations in the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 47/48, 2/ 1. Urges all parties directly concerned seriously to consider taking the practical and urgent steps required for the implementation of the proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and, as a means of promoting this objective, invites the countries concerned to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; 3/ 2. Calls upon all countries of the region that have not done so, pending the establishment of the zone, to agree to place all their nuclear activities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; 3. Takes note of resolution GC(XXXVII)/RES/627 of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning the application of Agency safeguards in the Middle East; 4. Invites all countries of the region, pending the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East, to declare their support for establishing such a zone, consistent with paragraph 63 (d) of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, and to deposit those declarations with the Security Council; 5. Also invites those zone, not to develop, produce, permit the stationing on their control, of nuclear weapons or countries, pending the establishment of the test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or territories, or territories under their nuclear explosive devices; 6. Invites the nuclear-weapon States and all other States to render their assistance in the establishment of the zone and at the same time to refrain from any action that runs counter to both the letter and the spirit of the present resolution; 7. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; 2/ _________ 2/ A/48/399. 3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 729, No. 10485. /...