would like to extend my wishes for success in their new duties to their predecessors, Ambassador de Azambuja, Ambassador von Stiilpnagel and Ambassador Sharma, as well as to Ambassador Bayart of Mongolia and Ambassador Varga of Hungary. At the time when the Conference is completing its work for this session, I would like to take as my point of departure the sweeping changes which have helped to alter the prospects for disarmament in order to present France's viewpoint on the questions which are of the most direct interest to us, namely nuclear disarmament in its various aspects and the other spheres of negotiation - outer space and radiological weapons, and, lastly, chemical weapons - before concluding with some thoughts on improving the functioning and efficiency of the Conference. The scale of the changes that have occurred in less than a year in our continent has been commented on by many delegations and there is no need to revert to that. I would simply like to stress today their consequences, that CD/PV.570 7 (Mr, Morel. France) is, the rapid transformation of the conditions in which countries situated in or involved in Europe are henceforth approaching questions of security and disarmament. By contagion, minds have opened and the era of blocs is coming to an end once and for all. But it is not only the end of the post-war period that we are witnessing. As I emphasized recently in Vienna in the Preparatory Committee, the summit of the 35 States participating in the CSCE that will be held in Paris from 19 to 21 November next will mark still more profoundly the end of an epoch almost two centuries long in which, from the Congress of Vienna to the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, the victors and the Powers of the day shared out Europe amongst themselves around a negotiating table. For the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement made by a high-ranking government official or diplomat, likely from France, at a conference or meeting related to international relations and disarmament. The speaker mentions the recent changes in Europe and the end of an era in international relations, which suggests that the topic is more related to politics and international cooperation rather than a specific economic or social issue.

**Category**
International relations, Politics