always a difficult step to take. The comforting tepidity of the status quo, to put it thus, reassures some leaders and bolsters the aversion to change there always is on the part of those who are called upon to implement policies or to imagine the alternatives that a new situation requires. If I have dared to provide this rather abstract introduction, it is because I sincerely believe that it is of value for the process of collective reflection that the new circumstances require for the handling of item 6 of our Conference's agenda, that is, "effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons", or, to use the short, though no less obscure title, "Negative security assurances". We are all aware that on this topic, as on other items of its agenda, this organ is struggling in an impasse which has prevailed for many years, without any sign so far of a possibility of concrete progress in the search CD/PV.570 19 (Mr, Garcia Moritan. Argentina) for what we have all agreed we must seek: a common formula that will adequately guarantee to those of us who do not possess nuclear weapons against their use by those who do have them. Year after year the debates have followed a well-known scenario in which, with the sole exception of one nuclear-weapon State, the remaining four have expressed their willingness to give certain guarantees contingent upon the presence, or absence, of conditions set for countries' eligibility to enjoy such assurances. We all know the versions of each of the declarations. Some are linked with existing international legal instruments, some make reference to the possibility of an attack or aggression in association or alliance with a nuclear-weapon State or against another State with which the State concerned has some sort of security 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a diplomatic document discussing international relations, specifically the topic of nuclear weapons and the need for non-nuclear-weapon states to have assurances against their use. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting that the text is intended for a specialized audience. The content does not seem to be related to any specific economic or environmental issue, but rather to international politics and security.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology