certainly haveapositive impact onworldsecurity. 12.Although, inaglobalperspective, military spending isnolongerincreasing asinthepasttwodecades, weapons inventories remainextremely high,whileever morelethal armsarebeingintroduced intotheworld's stockpile ofconventional weapons. Itwouldindeed bealarming ifadvances inthedisarmament process should resultinarmsproducers scrambling formarkets inthedeveloping world, todispose ofinventories whichsuddenly becomeobsolescent. Appropriate actionwillneedto betakentopromote transparency ininternational armstransfers. 13.Advances inscience andtechnology haveconstituted oneofthemajor revolutions inthepasthalfcentury. Moreextended debates willberequired to assessthevarious technological trends, particularly inthemilitary spheres, to seehowtheymayaffectinternational peaceandsecurity intheyearsahead. Such considerations canenhance theability oftheinternational community toidentify thosescientific andtechnological developments thatofferthegreatest prospect forbuilding mutualconfidence andunderstanding andassisting intheverification ofmultilateral disarmament agreements. -4- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library14.Theentireissueoftheeconomic impactofactual armsreductions onnational andworldeconomies willneedtobecarefully examined. Military expenditures have beenveryimportant formanynational economies andmajorreductions willhave far-reaching political, economic andsocialeffects. Theexpectations generated by theprospects of"peacedividends" should beplacedinthecontext ofimmediate costsandlonger-term consequences ofarmsreductions. TheUnitedNations should facilitate theexchange ofnational experiences inthefieldofconversion from military tocivilian production. TheOrganization shouldalsobeassociated inthe drafting ofguidelines .relating tomultilateral co-operation toassist Member Statesinmoving fromaperiodofhighmilitary spending tooneofsignificantly lowerarmsexpenditures. ......... 15.Astheworldcommunity increasingly recognizes theneedtoactinconcert ona variety ofproblems, thedevelopment ofandrespect forinternational lawwill assumeaneverbroadening role. Asanintergovernmental organization basedonand governed byinternational law,theUnited Nations mustitselfinitsdecisions and activities setanexample ofcompliance withtheprinciples ofjustice and international lawenunciated intheCharter. Increased efforts alsowillbe required intheareaoflawmaking andcodification. ManyoftheOrganization's activities relating toeconomic development andsocial advance reston international legalinstruments. Onlandandsea,aswellasinouterspace,the UnitedNations hasinthepastdecades constructed alegalframework forthe regulation ofawiderangeofhumanactivities. Theelaboration ofinternational conventions, agreements, charters anddeclaratiQns willremain amajor responsibility oftheUnitedNations. TheOrganization mustcontinue itsleading roleinthedevelopment andcodification ofpublicinternational lawandinsuch specialized areasasinternational environmental lawandinternational tradelaw. ......... 16.TheCharter oftheUnited Nations givestheOrganization akeyroleinglobal efforts toimprove theeconomic andsocialwell-being ofmankind, necessary for peaceful relations amongnations. Accordingly, theOrganization devotes amajor partofitsresources toestablishing abetterunderstanding oftheprincipal issuesofeconomic development andsocialprogress through research andanalysis of thecentral problems, facilitating dialogue anddiscussion attheglobal aswellas regional levels, encouraging decisions intheinterest ofgreater harmony in international economic andsocialrelations andproviding impartial andunbiased technical assistance wherenecessary attheinternational, regional andnational levels. Thesesustained efforts oftheUnited Nations, andoftheorganizations of thesystem, toameliorate worldeconomic andsocialproblems havemetwithsome success. During thepast40yearsconsiderable progress hasbeenachieved inmany
**Analysis**
The text primarily focuses on the role of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, addressing the economic and social implications of disarmament, and promoting international law and cooperation. It highlights the need for transparency in international arms transfers, the importance of converting military production to civilian use, and the development of international law to regulate human activities.

**Category**
Economic development, International relations, Science and technology