Lome declaration on disarmament and development adopted.

Lome Declaration on Disarmament and Development adopted

The Ministerial Regional Conference on Security, Disarmament and Development in Africa, convened by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) at Lome, Togo, from 13 to 16 August, adopted a Declaration and Programme of ACtion (A/40/761-S/17573) that said regional security must go beyond the prevention of armed conflicts to encompass a sustained commitment by States to national, regional and multilateral programmes of socio-economic development, justice, equity and human dignity.

The Conference considered that improved international relations, especially between the two super-Powers, and between North and South, would enhance the prospects for security, disarmament and development in Africa. There was deep concern over the "active collaboration" between South Africa, Israel and "some Western Powers" in the establishment and continued development of South Africa's nuclear weapon capability. The Conference underscored the need for concrete and practical peace measures, and recommended considering a legal instrument to make Africa a nuclear-free zone.

The Conference expressed its conviction that the elimination of apartheid and immediate independence for Namibia would greatly reduce the climate of tension and conflict in the region and enhance the prospects for disarmament, development, security and peaceful co-operation.

The Programme of Action called for continuous negotiations within the framework of the OAU aimed at reaching politically binding commitments in the context of a Conference on Security and Co-operation in Africa. The OAU Secretary-General was asked to elaborate proposals as a basis for discussion among States on defence co-operation and arrangements to prevent arms transfers to mercenaries in the region.

The Secretary-General of the United...