German unification, the historic NATO meetings and their communiques, the possibilities of agreements later this year on conventional forces in Europe as well as on confidence- and security-building measures, a CSCE summit and the strong probability that at the end of this year an agreement on strategic offensive arms will be signed by the Soviet Union and the United States. From a global perspective, over recent years the enhanced role of the United Nations is clearly in evidence: effectively settling bloody conflicts which hitherto seemed not susceptible to mediation: the independence of Namibia, to mention just one example. Peace is breaking out, although regrettably not yet everywhere. Unfortunately, we witness areas of antagonism shifting from the East-West context into the third world. Proliferation of major weapon systems, be it conventional, chemical or of other types, is a worrisome corollary of that trend. In general, however, antagonism is yielding place to co-operation and trust. The threats to international security are diminishing, the international community can henceforth gradually start to focus its efforts on allocation of scarce resources to other objectives. How does this rapidly changing environment affect the Conference on Disarmament? That is the first question I shall take up today. Secondly, what are the implications for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear arms and testing issues? Thirdly, I intend to address our chemical weapons negotiations. CD/PV.568 3 (Mr, Wagenmakers (Netherlands) How then, to take up the first question, how then does the Conference on Disarmament avail itself of the historic opportunities offered in this revoluntionary age? Our awareness was first raised - this year - by the important message of Ambassador de Azambuja of Brazil on 8 February last. Many plenary statements since then have echoed his appeal. Indeed, if we, in this forum, do not use up the full potential of the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses international relations, disarmament, and security, which are all closely related to the category of international relations and diplomacy. The text also mentions the United Nations, NATO, and the Conference on Disarmament, which further supports the idea that this text is more relevant to international relations than other categories.

**Category**
International relations