assured us of a first-class stewardship throughout this month of April. I do not have to add my personal feelings and my high regard for you - we are, I think, very close friends; we will remain so. I would like to say a word about Ambassador Miljan Komatina, Secretary-General of the Conference, and Ambassador Vicente Berasategui, Deputy Secretary-General, who both deserve my praise and thanks, not only for their work during this month, but for their constant help and advice throughout my presence in this body. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the secretariat and the interpreters and translators for their contribution, assistance, support and patience. I have been in contact with Under-Secretary-General Akashi in New York to tell him how much I will miss him and how much I valued the co-operation of the United Nations in our joint work. I must also say that I am delighted to say goodbye to the Conference on the same day that two dear friends perform the same duty - Ambassador Paul von Stiilpnagel and Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma. I could not have had better company and closer friends if I had chosen them myself. CD/PV.554 8 (Mr. Azambuja. Brazil ) When I first came to the Conference, in August 1987, the world was still haunted by the ghosts of mistrust and rigid ideological confrontation. The winds that have brought us so many political changes since then were only beginning to blow, softly and slowly. With the INF agreement, a new era of détente between the two super-Powers was ushered in, opening wide avenues of common endeavour in the search for disarmament. Today, we can have good and well-founded hopes of seeing, in the near future, a broad agreement in the field of conventional disarmament in Europe, a 50 per cent cut in the 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a farewell speech by a diplomat or representative of a country, likely from a United Nations conference. The speech expresses gratitude to various individuals and organizations, and reflects on the progress made in international relations since the speaker's first attendance at the conference in 1987. The text does not specifically mention any of the categories listed, but it does touch on themes related to international cooperation, diplomacy, and disarmament.

**Category**
International trade, Humanitarian aid and relief, Science and technology