mandate of the ad hoc committee on a total nuclear test ban. In this context we cannot but welcome the actions which the delegation of Japan has been pursuing along these lines for a year now. We are very grateful to Ambassador Donowaki for his willingness to continue the consultations led by his predecessor, Ambassador Yamada, in looking for a consensus on the mandate of the committee in question. I would like to assure him of our full support and co-operation. In the view of my delegation, the formulation of the terms of this mandate does not matter very much, as long as the prime goal of the committee is the conclusion of a treaty containing internationally binding legal norms and directed towards a total nuclear test ban. The re-establishment of this committee in the coming weeks will certainly make a positive contribution to the success of the fourth conference of States parties to review the nuclear non-proliferation Treaty, which is to take place next summer . CD/PV.547 8 (Mr. Benhima, Morocco ) The use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes remains one of the dearest wishes of the international community. Our Conference, as an international disarmament negotiating body, has the task of drafting legal rules to safeguard this common heritage of mankind from the arms race. We are bound to note that the Ad hoc Committee set up six years ago for that purpose has not yet met the hopes placed in it. The procedural approach embarked on by the Conference through the setting up of an Ad hoc Committee on this item in 1985 has not achieved its final aim of drawing up an international agreement intended to prevent an arms race in space, in accordance with paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the first special session of the 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the actions of an Ad hoc committee on a total nuclear test ban, the mandate of which is to conclude a treaty containing internationally binding legal norms. It also mentions the use of outer space for peaceful purposes and the arms race. These topics suggest a focus on international relations and disarmament, which is closely related to the field of science and technology.

**Category**
Science and technology