CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT (Ikt imn *ov •;K" ; JHU-'/A L-Ot-'-LV Report of the Chairman of the Open-ended consultations on the Improved and Effective Functioning of the Conference on Disarmament 1. At the Conference's 552nd Plenary Meeting of 17 April 1990, it was decided that informal open-ended consultations would be initiated durinq the summer session on the Improved and Effective Functioning of the Conference on Disarmament. These consultations, chaired by Ambassador Ahmad Kamal of Pakistan, were conducted in a series of nine meetings, on the basis of a structure inspired bv the order followed in the Rules of pPocedure. Discussions took place in a thorough debate which identified many points of concern to member delegations. The following paragraphs summarize the major trends of the debate, and the points on which consensus emerqed. 2. Expansion of Membership of the Conference; Discussions centred on the manner in which the expansion of the Conference by four members under the 1+1+2 formula could be implemented, as well as on whether any alternative formulas needed to be considered in the light of a changinq global environment. Some delegations felt that implementation of the 1+1+2 formula should take place by an expansion "en bloc", while others felt that the existinq impasse should not prevent a partial implementation of the formula, at least where potential candidates already had the unanimous support of their respective qroups. Several interventions also referred to the likelihood of possible chanqes as a result of evolving events. 3. No consensus emerqed, but there was qeneral agreement that the matter would have to be reconsidered at the 1991 session in the light of possible changes in the political environment. 4. Sessions; Discussions centred on a proposal to divide the annual session 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be related to international diplomacy and disarmament, with discussions centering around the expansion of membership and sessions of the Conference on Disarmament. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting that the topic is of a serious and formal nature.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology