72. Efforts for the prevention of nuclear rdar have also been pursued at thebilateral level and have resulted in the conclusion of agreements on this subject.Thus' in 1963, the united states and the soviet union agreed to establish, for usein time of emergency, a direcE communication linkr and a Memorandum ofUnderstanding to this effect r,{as signed at Geneva by the American and Sovietrepresentatives of Ehe Eighteen-Nation Disarmament CommitEee. A few years later,within the framework of the Strategic Arrns Limit.ation Talks (SALT), a specialworking group was established to consider ways to improve the direct communicationIink. The advance in technology that had occurred since 1963 offered thepossibility of greater retiability than the arrangements originally agreed upon.The understanding reached by this Eroup was reported to the SALT delegations in the summer of l97l and became a formal agreement to improve the rrhot-line". AIso in1971' during the course of the SALT negotiations, Lhe United States and E,he SovietUnion entered into the Agreement on Measures to Reduce the Risk of Out,break ofNuclear War. The Agreement covers a pledge by both sides to take measures thateach considers necessary to maintain and improve its organizat.ional and technicalsafeguards against accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear \deaponsi arrangementsfor inrnediate notification should a risk of nuclear vrar arise from such incidents,from detect,ion of unidentified objects on early warning syslerns, or from anyaccidental, unauthorized, or other unexplained incident involving a possible detonaEion of a nuclear rr,eaponi and advance notification of any planned missilelaunches beyond t,he territory of the launching part,y and in Ehe direction of theother party. The Agreement also provides that, for urgent conmunicaEions insit.uations requiring prompt clarification the "hot-line,' will be used.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international agreements and efforts to prevent nuclear war, which is a topic related to international relations, security, and diplomacy. The language used is formal and technical, indicating a focus on official agreements and protocols.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Science and technology