. The States represented at the meeting proceed from the principle that any agreement on arms cuts and disarmament must provide for appropriate measures for monitoring its observance, including inter­ national procedures where necessary. Taking into account the fact that growing military expenditures are closely linked to the escalation of the arms race, the participants in the meeting call upon the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries to conclude a practical agreement on not in­ creasing military expenditures and on their subsequent reduction in percentage or absolute terms. An agreement on this question must, of course, include all States with a major military potential. The res,;iurces freed through the reduction of military expenditures would be used for economic and social development, including aid of that type to developing countries. The participants in the.meeting point out that the proposals made by their States jointly or individually for not increasing and for substantially reducing military expenditures remain valid. They pro­ pose that direct negotiations between the States Parties to the War­ saw Treaty and the States members of NATO should be opened immediately. •· 12 In view of the present situation, the high-level representatives of the States which have adopted this political declaration state that today there exists no more important problem for the world's peoples than that of preserving peace and halting the arms race. Solving that problem is the duty of all Governments and all State officials who determine the policy of their countries. III The most important part of the task of ending the danger of war and strengthening world peace is the strengthening of security in Europe. The principal reason for this is that the European continent is the site of an enormous concentration of weapons, both nuclear and conventional, and is the area of direct contact between the armed forces of two military alliances. 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a political declaration discussing the issue of arms control and disarmament, with a focus on reducing military expenditures and promoting economic and social development. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting a high-level meeting or conference. The text does not mention specific economic or environmental issues, but rather focuses on the relationship between military spending and international security.

**Category**
International relations, Employment