tragic reality. However, the threat to the survival of mankind was created by man, and man must have the means to ensure his own well-being; such means are not beyond his reach. What is needed is the determination to take a new direction, to use all human knowledge and material resources to preserve peace and improve the living conditions of peoples throughout the world. It is within the power of the United Nations , of all Member States, of all of us, to contribute , by means of the decisions that we take, to agreements to put an end to the present policy of tension and armament, to chart a course towards disarmament, primarily nuclear BG/3 A/C.l/40/PV.S 64-65 (Mr. Marinescu , Romania} disarmament, to preserve peace and ensure co-operation based on the principles of equality and independence. Mr. ALBORNOZ (Ecuador) (interpretation from Spanish): I congratulate you, Sir, on your well-deserved election to preside over this Committee . Your experience and skill, which have won you great prestige, guarantee the success of our work. I also congratulate the other officers of the Committee and the Secretariat. The agenda of the First Committee reflects a situation of world-wide concern over the different ways in which the arms race is jeopardizing the peace process, economic development, international co-operation and, in the case of nuclear weapons, even the very existence of our world. This concern is a factor of high priority as we celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, since the world is wondering what in fact has been achieved in the field of disarmament, even as regards partial measures, at least in regard to a weapons freeze, the prohibition of nuclear-weapon tests in all environments or the cessation of the production of nuclear weapons and their progressive elimination. It is clear that what is lacking is the firm, collective, simultaneous 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the threat to human survival and the need for collective action to ensure peace and disarmament. It mentions the use of human knowledge and material resources to improve living conditions and preserve peace. The tone is focused on international cooperation and the role of the United Nations in achieving these goals.

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