Mr. CHADHA (India): I am taking the floor on behalf of the Group of 21. May I, at the outset, say how happy we are in the Group of 21 to see you. Sir, preside over our deliberations this month. We would like to pay a warm tribute to you and to Ambassadors Yamada and Donowaki for the untiring efforts which have led to the decision we have just taken for the establishment of the Ad hoc Committee on agenda item 1, entitled "Nuclear test ban", an event which has been anxiously awaited by the Group of 21 for so long. The Group would like to extend its felicitations to Ambassador Donowaki on his well-deserved election as the Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee. We have no doubt that, with his experience and diplomatic skill, of which he has given ample evidence in the course of the informal consultations which made today's decision possible, he will be eminently successful in guiding the deliberations of the Ad hoc Committee to a fruitful conclusion. No issue in the field of disarmament is more urgent and crucial today than putting an end to nuclear tests. A comprehensive test-ban treaty is long overdue. The Conference on Disarmament as the single multilateral negotiating body has the primary role in negotiations to achieve this objective, and its achievement will enhance its credibility. The objective of a nuclear test ban has been repeatedly emphasized in numerous documents adopted unanimously by the United Nations, including the Final Document of the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament and in the declaration adopted by the Heads of State or Government of the Non-aligned Summit in Belgrade. As a significant contribution to the aim of halting and reversing the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech made by a representative of the Group of 21 at a United Nations conference. The speaker is discussing the establishment of an Ad hoc Committee on a nuclear test ban and the importance of achieving a comprehensive test-ban treaty. The speech emphasizes the urgency and crucial nature of this issue, highlighting its relevance to disarmament and the credibility of the Conference on Disarmament. The language used suggests a focus on international relations and diplomacy rather than a specific economic or technological issue.

**Category**
International trade, Science and technology