future technological surprises by encouraging greater openness in both sides' activities in the field of strategic ballistic missile defence. The centrepiece of the United States approach is our proposed defence and space treaty, aimed at facilitating a co-operative transition. The United States draft, updated last December, retains key understandings reached at the 1987 Washington summit and takes into account the outcome of the September 1989 Wyoming meeting of Secretary Baker and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze. At that session the Soviet Union dropped its demand for agreement on a period of non-withdrawal from the ABM Treaty. The Soviet Union also dropped its linkage between signature and implementation of a START treaty and reaching a new agreement on defence and space. The United States welcomed this step. The United States draft treaty provides for procedures whereby either party may declare its intent to deploy strategic defences by giving notice and proposing specific measures for implementing a co-operative transition. The parties would be required to conduct three years of intensive discussions of CD/PV.553 8 (Mr, Smith. United States ) the proposed specific measures and the implications for strategic stability. Subsequently, unless agreed otherwise, if a party decided to commence deployments beyond those allowed by the ABM Treaty, it would have to give a further six months' notice. This proposed mechanism offers a more stable path for deploying advanced defences than the current alternative, which is to exercise the supreme interest withdrawal provision of the ABM Treaty. The ABM Treaty permits a party to withdraw and deploy after only six months' notice. Our proposed new mechanism would help ensure a meaningful and timely dialogue on how to achieve a stable, co-operative transition. The revised United States draft treaty also reflects the full rights 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations and military affairs, specifically the United States' proposal for a defense and space treaty with the Soviet Union. The language used is formal and technical, indicating that the topic is complex and requires careful consideration. The text also mentions specific treaties and agreements, such as the ABM Treaty, which suggests that the category should be related to international relations or defense.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations