the signing, on 1 June, of the United States/USSR bilateral agreement for the cessation of CW production and the destruction of all but 5,000 agent tonnes of their CW stockpiles by 31 December 2002. My Government welcomed that agreement and hoped that it would further facilitate the early conclusion of our multilateral negotiations here in Geneva. In saying this, I should note that my delegation is not one of those that believe that all it will take to wind up our negotiations and produce a draft convention for signature is sheer political will. Certainly that will be necessary, but there yet remain a number of major, crucial issues to be resolved. There are also important technical questions that still need to be thoroughly addressed if we are to produce a truly effective convention. The reasons for this limited progress seem as varied as they are elusive. Some have indeed pointed to an alleged lack of willpower. Or perhaps there is an unreadiness in some quarters to accept that we might actually be on the verge of a comprehensive ban on chemical weapons. Others might point to an insidious, dangerous, degradation of the overall negotiating climate, where chemical weapons proliferation is increasing and where chemical weapons are seen by some - erroneously, we believe - as a "poor man's" weapon of mass destruction. Quite irrespective of the current situation in the Middle East, that area has been a source of particular concern for some time because of the approach of some States in the region to chemical weapons. Chemical weapons were used there not long ago and, recently, threats to use CW have been made which then provoked counter-threats. We call upon all countries to refrain from such potentially inflammatory statements. These can only contribute to heightened 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations and negotiations related to the ban on chemical weapons. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating that the text is likely a speech or statement from a government official. The content focuses on the international agreements and negotiations surrounding chemical weapons, as well as the political and security concerns related to their use. Given these factors, it seems likely that the text is related to international relations and security.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief