A/RES/50/78 Page 2 disarmament, which states that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among the States of the region concerned constitutes an important disarmament measure, Bearing in mind also the provisions of resolution CM/Res.1592 (LXII)/Rev.1 on the implementation of the Treaty declaring Africa a nuclearweapon-free zone, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its sixty-second ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 21 to 23 June 1995, 4/ Noting the adoption by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-first ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 26 to 28 June 1995, of the African Nuclear-Weapon-FreeZone Treaty (the Pelindaba Treaty), 5/ Noting also that the Treaty contains three Protocols open to the signature of States that, de jure or de facto, are internationally responsible for territories that lie within the limits of the geographical zone established in the Pelindaba Treaty and to the signature of States possessing nuclear weapons, and convinced that the cooperation of such States is necessary for the greater effectiveness of the Treaty, Recognizing that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones contributes to the strengthening of the international non-proliferation regime, 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. Welcomes with special satisfaction the adoption by the African leaders of the final text of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty (the Pelindaba Treaty), 5/ which constitutes an event of historic significance in the efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote international peace and security and which, at the same time, recognizes the right of African countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in order to accelerate the economic and social development of their peoples; 2. Invites the African States to sign and ratify the Pelindaba Treaty as soon as possible; 3. Calls upon all States to respect the continent of Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone; 4. Calls upon the States contemplated in Protocol III to the Pelindaba Treaty 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; 5. Calls upon the nuclear-weapon States to bring the necessary support to the Pelindaba Treaty by signing the Protocols that concern them as soon as the Treaty becomes available for signature; 6. Expresses its profound gratitude to the Secretary-General for the 4/ A/50/647, annex I. 5/ See A/50/426. /...