important contributions by the group of seven experienced colleagues. It touches upon basic issues, such as which items should be on our agenda, the functions of subsidiary bodies, working periods, etc. My delegation will continue to take an active part in the dialogue so effectively promoted by the Chairman of the open-ended consultations. However, I also wish to take this opportunity to make a few remarks for the record on these important matters. First, the issue of the agenda of the Conference on Disarmament. Without prejudice to what will come out of the open-ended consultations, delegations now seem to be prepared to look at new potential items for our agenda. At the same time, however, it appears that delegations are reluctant to see existing agenda items disappear. My delegation considers most of the items of our agenda priority issues, focusing as they do on disarmament measures pertaining to weapons of mass destruction. It is true that very little has been achieved on some of the issues over the years. To abolish them, however, would be to succumb to defeatism. One reason for the lack of progress may in some instances have been that the time has simply not been ripe to deal with them in a sufficiently constructive manner. When international security relations will now proceed to a different posture, hopefully away from a reliance on nuclear weapons, new life could perhaps be blown into these items. It should then, for instance, be possible to make progress on the question of negative security assurances. The nuclear items on our present agenda have received very little attention in the form of structured work. After having for so many years been overdue, the nuclear test-ban issue will, however, now be treated in an ad hoc 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing a conference or meeting related to disarmament and international security, specifically touching on issues such as the agenda, subsidiary bodies, and working periods. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting that the context is international relations or diplomacy. The content does not seem to be related to economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues, which are often discussed in the context of sustainable development or international cooperation.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief