that the issue demands and the need to deal with it in the multilateral negotiating framework of the Conference on Disarmament. The Group of 21 regrets that despite the preliminary work carried out on this subject during previous years, it has still not been found possible to set up an ad hoc committee on this item. In keeping with the discussions that took place on this item in the previous years, and as reflected in the report of the CD contained in document CD/956, the Group of 21 is convinced that the need for urgent multilateral action on the cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament, leading to the adoption of concrete measures, has been amply demonstrated. In its opinion, multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament are long overdue. It welcomes the progress achieved in the bilateral negotiations but reiterates that because of their limited scope and the number of parties involved, these can never replace or nullify the genuine multilateral search for universally applicable nuclear disarmament measures. It believes that all nations have a vital interest in negotiations on nuclear disarmament. The existence of nuclear weapons and their quantitative and qualitative development directly and fundamentally jeopardize the vital security interests of both nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States alike. It is an accepted fact that nuclear weapons pose the greatest danger to mankind and the survival of civilization. It is essential, therefore, to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race in all its aspects in order to avoid the danger of nuclear war. At the Ninth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Belgrade in September 1989, it was noted that "while the overall international climate is positive, there is still much to be done to halt the arms race" . The Belgrade summit also emphasized the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic statement or proposal, focusing on the need for international cooperation and negotiations to address the issue of nuclear disarmament. The language used is formal and official, suggesting a high-level meeting or conference. The text highlights the risks and dangers posed by nuclear weapons and emphasizes the need for a multilateral approach to address this issue.

**Category**
International trade, Science and technology