the Presidency is in good hands and that we can dr&w from your vast experience at international conferences. I am sorry to learn that your months here are counted and that we shall soon have to learn to live without you and your wise counsel. I also wish to thank the delegation of Zaire and in particular the distinguished Ambassador Bagbeni Adeito Nzengeya, our President last month, for his guidance during the first weeks of the summer part of our session. Since this is the first time that I take the floor during this session, I also wish to express a warm welcome to our new colleague from France, Ambassador Jessel. We look forward to close co-operation with him following the tradition that was set by his very able predeccesor Ambassador de la Goree. We would also beg the delegation of Argentina to convey to Ambassador Carasales our best wishes for the future. We shall keep good memories of his excellent contributions to our work and a high level of interventions in this Conference. On 24 April this year I expressed the opinion "that the substantive work the Ad Hoc Committee on Radiological Weapons is dealing with holds promise for progress". As the Ad Hoc Committee's substantive work is now well under way I wish today to offer some ideas and comments on the subject, hoping that this will contribute, even in a modest way, in moving matters forward. For roughly six years now the Committee and later the Conference on Disarmament have endeavoured to prohibit what are "radiological weapons" in the view of some, "radiological warfare" in the view of others. The starting point was a joint initiative by the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic speech, discussing international conferences, committee work, and disarmament efforts. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating a discussion of global affairs and international relations. The topic of radiological weapons and warfare suggests a focus on security and international cooperation.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology