establishment of an ad hoc committee to consider the matter of a nuclear test ban. This subject is one of the corner-stones on which the progressive advancement of the work of this Conference should be built, and there can be no justification for the fact that since 1984 we have not managed to undertake a constructive debate on this issue within a subsidiary body of the Conference on Disarmament. In the light of the great capacity of this forum to solve organizational problems it is paradoxical that we have not been able to reach an agreement on this issue, particularly bearing in mind the general convergence of positions that has emerged with respect to the mandate of a subsidiary body. It is for this reason that I am of the view that we can delay no further in the prompt adoption of a substantive decision towards initiation of the work of an ad hoc committee on the matter of the total cessation of nuclear tests. I assure you that I will make every effort during the present month so that the consultations being carried out with such competence and diplomatic skill by Ambassador Donowaki meet with success. I invite him to redouble his efforts in view of the short time left during the current session to conduct substantive work jointly on this important agenda item. It goes without saying that I stand fully ready to co-operate with Ambassador Donowaki whenever he deems it necessary. However, we might say that this Conference has its own "home front". We must strive to ensure that the Conference on Disarmament is much more effective, giving greater continuity to our work, dropping positions which are merely rhetorical, linking our work in a realistic way with the progress being made bilaterally, and focusing on those areas in which it is reasonable to 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the establishment of an ad hoc committee to consider a nuclear test ban, which suggests that the topic is related to international security, disarmament, and non-proliferation. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating that it is a matter of international relations and politics. The text does not mention economic or social development, health, education, employment, or humanitarian aid, which are typically the focus of other categories.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology