AW/PLJ A/C.l/40/PV.S 56 (Mr. Marinescu, Romania) When the immense quantity of nuclear weapons accumulated by the United States and by the Soviet Union can destroy all of mankind many times over, how can it be claimed that a few hundreds of missiles more or less could affect the balance of forces between the two parties? On what is nuclear superiority based when we know that the adversary, even from a position of inferiority, possesses arsenals that can destroy the world many times over? In the nuclear age it is no longer a problem of military balance, of inferiority or superiority, but a question of life and death. Since these are the alternatives, it seems to us that there is only one solution: the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. This is the most certain way to free mankind from the danger of nuclear cataclysm, maintain stability in the world and safeguard .world peace and security. We welcome the agreement reached between the Soviet Union and the United States of America to begin negotiations on nuclear and space weapons having as a final objective of their talks the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. It is clear that such a broad objective cannot be achieved overnight. Romania has always been in favour of persevering and sincere negotiations, both bilateral and multilateral , with a view to agreements on nuclear disarmament measures aimed at the cessation of the production of nuclear weapons and their gradual reduction until their total elimination is achieved. The fact that there will be a meeting between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States of America in November is undoubtedly a positive event of extreme importance. As was recently stated by President Ceausescu: "Romania believes that it is necessary to make every effort, in the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the threat of nuclear weapons and the need for their elimination to ensure world peace and security. It highlights the imbalance of nuclear arsenals between the United States and the Soviet Union, and calls for negotiations to achieve complete nuclear disarmament. The text does not mention any specific economic, industrial, or environmental concerns, but rather focuses on the political and strategic implications of nuclear weapons.

**Category**
International relations, Health