the opening of bilateral negotiations, including space issues, between the United States and the Soviet Union to which I referred earlier. The work undertaken MLG/sm A/C.l/40/PV.ll 33 (Mr. Cromartie, United Kingdom) revealed the complexity of the subject and the danger of taking literally imprecise formulations such as the ·"militarization" of space. It is clear that there are already military elements operating in space. A large proportion of space flights have military purposes -for example, 80 per cent of them in the case of the Soviet Union. Here as elsewhere on military matters, greater willingness to provide objective information would be welcome. Some military uses of outer space are, of course, beneficial . For example, national technical means of verification provided by military satellites make a very important contribution to the confidence necessary for effective arms control and disarmament measures. The examination of the subject in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Conference revealed that a considerable , if not comprehensive, body of international law already imposes many restrictions and prohibitions on the military use of space, and a number of interesting proposals for additional measures, worthy of examination, were put forward. The Conference has made a good start, but much needs to be done. It is therefore necessary that the Conference should continue its multilateral work on outer space next year as an important complement to the bilateral negotiations. Useful work was done in the Conference on Disarmament on some other items of its agenda. On radiological weapons and the protection of nuclear facilities there was a more constructive examination of the issues at stake. This has served in some respects, however, to underline the difficulties in seeking to go beyond the traditional definition of radiological weapons. On the comprehensive programme of disarmament , the Ad Hoc Committee succeeded in a good atmosphere in clearing up 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the international negotiations and agreements regarding the use of outer space, including military and peaceful uses, and its relation to disarmament and arms control. It appears to be focused on the diplomatic and legal aspects of space exploration, rather than its economic, environmental, or social implications.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations