CD/PV.573 14 August 1990CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT FINAL RECORD OF THE FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THIRD PLENARY MEETING Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on Tuesday, 14 August 1990, at 10 a.m. President: Mr. Gheorghe Chirila (Romania) GE.90-62595/2324B CD/PV.573 2 The PRESIDENT (translated from French): I declare open the 573rd plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament. Today, the business before the Conference is consideration of reports of its ad hoc subsidiary bodies as well as consideration and adoption of its annual report to the General Assembly. However, under rule 30 of the rules of procedure, any representative may, if he wishes, raise any subject relevant to the work of the Conference. I have on today's list of speakers the representatives of Canada, the Republic of Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the representative of Canada, Ambassador Shannon. Mr. SHANNON (Canada): Mr. President, may I begin by expressing my pleasure at seeing you in the Chair, and by pledging to you the full support and co-operation of my delegation in helping you to carry out your presidential responsibilities during this final, important month of the formal 1990 session. The only item I intend to address today is the item on chemical weapons. I will offer some Canadian comments on the progress achieved to date in the 1990 session. I also wish to address the priorities my Government attaches to particular aspects of our negotiations on the proposed chemical weapons convention. Further, I will introduce two Canadian technical studies relating to the issues of toxicity determination and the possible costs of operating an international inspectorate. Lastly, I wish to address our recently submitted report on the latest national trial inspection conducted by my authorities.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be related to international diplomacy and disarmament, specifically discussing the Conference on Disarmament and the negotiations on a chemical weapons convention. The representative of Canada is presenting a report on the progress made in the 1990 session and introducing technical studies on issues related to the convention.

**Category**
International trade, Science and technology