West and East in general. The agreement of 8 January 1985 thus creates a framework for new intensive efforts for East-West accords which serve the purpose of co-operatively safeguarding peace and actively preventing war. As far as the Geneva negotiations in detail are concerned, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany takes the view that the main purpose of these negotiations is to bring about a limitation and reduction of nuclear arms. The growth of nuclear potentials since the early 1970s is a matter of serious concern. It has done much to provoke the search for new types of space-based options. Accordingly, as the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs emphasized in the General Assembly on 26 September 1985, "Drastic and reliably verifiable reductions in nuclear offensive potentials will therefore necessarily influence the need for, and the scope of, future defensive weapons" . (A/40/PV .lO, p. 27) We hope for early progress in Geneva. In our opinion, results must accord with the agreed aim of strategic stability, while taking account of the connection between offensive and defensive weapons, and must give due consideration to the legitimate European security interests. Strategic stability is a complex equation, whose individual elements must be correctly assigned and which should contain as few unknown factors as possible. It is of particular importance to us that no differing levels of security be created for Europe and the United States and that no grey areas emerge below the long-range intermediate nuclear forces. We welcome the fact that, following the most recent Soviet proposals, both sides have put into real terms the willingness to make drastic reductions in their JVM/12 A/C.l/40/PV.ll 48 (Mr. Lautenschlager, Federal Republic of Germany) nuclear arsenals. It is vital now to investigate in the negotiations all 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic statement discussing the framework for East-West accords and the reduction of nuclear arms. It mentions the Geneva negotiations and the need for strategic stability, which suggests a focus on international relations and security.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology