relieduponintheoperation ofmodern, sophisticated weapons systems. Suchiscurunderstanding ofthecurrent strategic andpolitical realities. Itisbasedongrimfactsthatcannotbeignored. Itisprecisely forthisreasonthatthesovietUnionhasbeensopersistent inseeking notmerelythemaintenance butalowering oftheexisting levelof strategic equilibrium andtheearlyadoption ofeffective measures tostopand reverse thearmsrace. Weknow-andmanyotherStatesnowrealizethistoo-that thereisnomoretimetowaste,foritmayturnouttobetoolate.JSM!rd A/40/PV.6 66 (Mr.Shevardnadze, USSR) wehavegathered inNewYo!:kinthefinaldaysofthefirstJDOnthofautum. Itisatimeassociated inmanycountries withtheharvest, whenfarmers lookto thecomingwinte!:lo!!thafeeUngofworkwelldone.Thisthought bringstomind another metaphor which,regrettably, hasalready takenrootinthevocabulary of mankind -themetaphor ofthe"nuclear winter". wewanttheword"winter" inall thelanguages oftheworldtoretainitsoneandonlymeaning, itsoriginal meaning andtobeidentified solelywiththeseasonoftheyearwhichissobeautiful and joyful. Inanattempt toestablish afavourable climate fortheresumption ofthe processofarmslimitation andreduction, and,ultimately, thecomplete elimination ofnuclear weapons everywhere, theSOvietUnionhasrecently takensomesubstantial stepsonaunilateral - Istress"unilateralCl-basis. Thesestepsinclude the decision nottoplaceanti-satellite weapons inouterspacesolongastheunited Statesdoesnotdoso.Unfortunately, however, theunitedstates, disregarding the interests ofpolitical andmilitary stability, recently testedananti-satellite weaponagainst atargetinspace. Thosestepsalso-include thesuspension of further implementation ofourcounter-measures inEuropeconsequent uponthe deployment ofunitedStatesmedium-range nuclear systems ontheterritories ofsome Western European countries. Finally, thereisourmoratorium onnuclear explosions. Itisclearthatbytheirverynaturesuchunilateral stepscouldnotbetaken asmeasures efunlL~ited duration; buttheycouldbeofunlimited duration ifthe unitedstatesfollowed ourgoodexample. Thatwouldconstitute significant progress towards arelaxation ofmilitary tension intheworld.If,however, the unitedStatesfailstoheedthevoiceofreason, noonewillbeabletoblameus whentheunilateral moratoriums wehavedeclared cometoanendastheirterms expire. ItisnotforusbutfortheUnitedstatestomakethechoice.JSM/rd A/40/W.6 67 (Mr.Shevarcmadze, USSR) Notwithstanding theimportance ofsucnstepsasmoratoriums designed tocurb thearmsrace,thepeoplesoftheworldhaveeveryrighttodemandthatradical measures betakentoreduceandeventually eliminate nuclear -andnotonly nuclear -weapons. Fromtheverybeginning oftheGenevanegotiations onnuclear andspace weapons ourcountry hasbeendetermined toachieve aradical solution tothese interrelated problems andhastakenaconstructive position. TheSovietdelegation hadbrought tothecurrent roundofnegotiations substantial, large-scale and far-reaching proposals. Webelieve thatagreement tobanspace-strike weapons and tobringabouttrulyradical reductions innuclear armswouldtodayhavethemost positive effect. Suchanagreement couldbring a~outaturnforthebetterinthe entirecourseofworldevents, avertthethreatofnuclear catastrophe andopenup forthepeoples oftheworldtheprospect ofaworldfreefromfearfortomorrow. Mankind wouldbemovingtowards thenewmillenium whichisalready almostwithus, confident thatcivilization wouldcontinue toadvance. TheSovietunionhasputforward proposals onthewholerangeofissues relating totheceasation ofthearmsrace.Iamnotgoingtomention eachof thoseproposals forallofthemwill,inonewayoranother, becomethesubjectof anexchange ofviewsattheGeneral Assembly. Letmejustsaythattheycoverthe nuclearfield,inclUding thecessation ofnucleartests,aswellaschemical weapons, conventional weapons andthenumerical strength ofarmedforces. Insome casesitisaquestion ofafreeze~ inothersofareduction. TheSovietUnion continues resolutely continues tosupport proposals toestablish nuclear-weapon-free zones,chemical-weapon-free zonesandzonesofpeaceinvarious partsoftheworld. Itfavours alimitation ofnavalactivities andnavalarmaments andresolutely opposes thedevelopment ofanynewweaponsofmassdestruction •.JSM/rd A/40/PV.6 68 (Hr.Shevardnadze, USSR) Inthecontext oftheproposed armslimitation andreduction measures, the Sovietunionbelieves itnecessary toprovide foradequate measures ofverification andcontrol, insomecasesnational, andinothersnational combined with international, whenever thereisanobjective necessity forthis. Wehaveasgreat aninterest asanyoneineffective verification ofcompliance byallStateswith theirobligations inconnection withdisarmament measures. WecallupontheStates
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement from the Soviet Union, focusing on the topic of disarmament, arms control, and the reduction of nuclear weapons. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating a high-level official or government representative. The content is primarily concerned with international relations, politics, and security, with little to no mention of economic development, natural resources, or other non-security-related topics.

**Category**
International relations, Politics, Security