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,
 
      Stressing the interests of the international community in the subject
and the need to follow closely the scientific and technological developments
that may have a negative impact on the security environment and on the process
of arms limitation and disarmament, and to channel scientific and
technological developments for beneficial purposes,
 
      Cognizant that the international transfer of high-technology products,
services and know-how for peaceful purposes is important for the economic and
social development of States,
 
      Recalling that the Final Declaration of the Eleventh Conference of Heads
of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Cartagena de Indias,
Colombia, from 18 to 20 October 1995, noted that restrictions being placed on
access to technology through the imposition of non-transparent ad hoc export
control regimes with exclusive membership tended to impede the economic and
social development of developing countries,
 
      Emphasizing that the internationally negotiated guidelines for the
transfer of high technology with military applications should take into
account the legitimate defence requirements of all States, while ensuring that
access to high-technology products and services and know-how for peaceful
purposes is not denied,
 
      1.    Affirms that scientific and technological achievements should be
used for the benefit of all mankind to promote the sustainable economic and
social development of all States and to safeguard international security, and
that international cooperation in the use of science and technology through
the transfer and exchange of technological know-how for peaceful purposes
should be promoted;
 
      2.    Invites Member States to undertake additional efforts to apply
science and technology for disarmament-related purposes and to make
disarmament-related technologies available to interested States;
 
      3.    Urges Member States to undertake multilateral negotiations with
the participation of all interested States in order to establish universally
acceptable, non-discriminatory guidelines for international transfers of high
technology with military applications;
 
      4.    Requests the Secretary-General to develop a database of concerned
research institutions and experts with a view to promoting transparency and
international cooperation in the applications of the scientific and
technological developments for pursuing disarmament objectives such as
disposal of weapons, conversion and verification, among others;
 
      5.    Encourages the United Nations to contribute, within existing
mandates, to promoting the application of science and technology for peaceful
purposes;
 
      6.    Invites all Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General
their views and assessment;
 
      7.    Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-first
session an item entitled "The role of science and technology in the context of
international security and disarmament".