the cold war. The first practical steps in this direction are encouraging. The decision by United States President George Bush against a successor system to the Lance and the modernization of nuclear artillery shells is to be welcomed. We are looking forward with high hopes to the results of the NATO summit next month. The transformation of the military alliances is indispensable if the establishment of a just and lasting order of peace in Europe coupled with suitable security guarantees is to begin now. As early as 1967, NATO, in adopting the Harmel Report, set itself the objective of achieving a just and lasting order of peace in Europe that would include suitable security guarantees. Major conditions now exist for attaining this goal. The historic moment, in our view, calls for a political signal of similar importance, a signal that will add to the vision of 1967 concrete ideas and proposals on ways of putting it into practice, so that the way is cleared for gradually overcoming the situation whereby the CSCE States deter each other. CD/PV.561 page 8 We believe that the security alliance to which Germany is to belong in the future must have a primarily political character expressed in unambiguous terms. Its foremost task ought to be the prevention of war through the organization of disarmament on our continent and through the establishment of a pan-European security structure. I can imagine that a united Germany belonging to such a changed NATO in a co-operative security system as a successor to the German Democratic Republic will take part in a consultative mechanism together with the Warsaw Treaty States provided that it has developed such a political function. This would pose no problems if both alliances no longer confronted each other as enemies but were gradually proceeding to new forms of co-operation in security 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations, security, and politics, specifically the transformation of military alliances and the establishment of a just and lasting order of peace in Europe. It mentions NATO, the CSCE States, and the Warsaw Treaty States, indicating that it is related to international organizations and diplomacy.

**Category**
International relations, Politics