outside theregion, thatdirectly orindirectly threatened theinterests of non-aligned Mediterranean members shouldbeexcluded." (seepara.13) /...A/40/535 English page70 6.SouthPacific Forum 254.Meeting atTuvaluinAugust 1984,thecountries oftheSouthPacific Forum, comprising Australia, CookIslands, Federated StatesofMicronesia (asan observer), Fiji,Kiribati, Nauru, NewZealand, Niue,PapuaNewGuinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga,Tuvalu, Vanuatu andWestern Samoa,agreedonthedesirability of establishing anuclear-free zoneintheregionattheearliest possible opportunity inaccordance withcertain principles. Bearing inmindthegeographical features oftheregion,itisclearthatsuchazone,ifestablished, willembrace large areasOftheseas. CHAPTER VI IMPLICATIONS FORSECURITY ANDTHEPEACEFUL USESOFTHESEAS A.Implications forinternational security 255.Theforegoing chapters ofthisstudyhavedescribed, ingeneral terms,the natureofthecompetitive accumulation andqualitative development ofarmstaking placeintheoceans andseasoftheworldthatconstitute thenavalarmsrace. Thisphenomenon isapartoftheglobal armsrace;inturn,theglobal armsraceis areflection ofthepolitical perceptions ofStates andthecontinued absence ofa condition ofinternational security. However, whilebeinganintegral partofthe global armsrace,thenavalarmsracehasitsowncharacteristics and,inpart,its ownintrinsic motivations: oneoftheuniquefeatures ofthenavalarmsraceis thatagreatpartofnavaloperations takesplaceonthehighseas.Thesewaters areopenforuSebyallwhohaveinterests inthepeaceful usesoftheseaandthe peaceful development andexploitation ofitsresources. TomanyoftheStates seeking tousetheoceansforsuchpeaceful purposes, particularly ifsuchStates donothavestrongnavalforcesoftheirown,navaloperations conducted onthe highseascanincertain situations createanxiety andinsecurity ratherthan reassurance. 256.Theunremitting questforsecurity hasbeenattheforefront oftheactivities oftheUnitedNations sinceitsinception in1945,asrecognized bythefactthat theveryfirstpurpose oftheUnitedNations expressed inArticle IoftheCharter oftheorganization is:"tomaintain international peaceandsecurity· (Art.1). Thatthequesthasbeenoneoflongstanding wasindicated bytheGeneral Assembly intheopening wordsoftheFinalDocument oftheTenthSpecial Session, adopted by consensus in1978: "Theattainment oftheobjective ofsecurity, whichisan inseparable element ofpeace, hasalways beenoneofthemostprofound aspirations ofhumanity." (para.1).Additionally, itcouldbenotedthattheConvention on theLawoftheSeaisalsoseenascontributing tothestrengthening ofsecurity, asreflected inthepreamble: TheStatesparties tothisConvention believing that "thecodification andprogressive development ofthelawoftheseaachieved in thisConvention willcontribute tothestrengthening ofpeace,security, co-operation andfriendly relations amongallnations". I...A/40/535 English Page71 257.Yetthegoalofsecurity haspersistently eludedhumanity's grasp. Inits continued absence, States haveinstead accumulated weapons inanapparent effortto guarantee byarmswhatinternational negotiation andco-operation havesofar failedtoprovide. Theadventofnuclear weapons' andtheconstant technological progress intheirmeansofdelivery, theiraccuracy andtheirlethality have brought greatly increased dangers tothesurvival oftheentire humanrace.The threats tobasicsurvival, andtheharmful effects oftheunproductive and spiralling armsraceOneconomic andsocialprogress inbothdeveloping and developed countries, havebeenfullydescribed intheFinalDocument, inprevious UnitedNations disarmament stUdies andinmanyothergovernmental and non-governmental statements andpublications. 258.Theimplications forsecurity oftheburgeoning quantitative andqualitative developments takingplaceintheworld's naviesaremany.Firstandforemost, thereisthethreattoworldsecurity represented bythestrategic nuclear weapons atsea.Byoneestimate amounting tomorethan7,200SLBMwarheads,l!!some 40percentoftheestimated worldtotalofstrategic nuclear warheads aredesigned fornavaldeployment. Owingtotheoperating cyclesofSSBNs,thistotalcannot be operationally available atseaallatonce,butevensothereisnodoubtthat significant numbers arecontinuously atsea.According tothesamesource, atany onetimefrom17to20UnitedStates, 10Soviet, 2French and1to2British SSBNs maybeonstation, carrying some3,100nuclear warheads. Onsubmerged patrolin
**Analysis**
The text discusses the implications of naval arms races on international security, highlighting the threat to world security posed by strategic nuclear weapons at sea. It also touches on the concept of establishing a nuclear-free zone in the South Pacific and the role of the United Nations in promoting international peace and security. The text does not explicitly mention economic development, natural resources, or other categories, but its focus on security and disarmament suggests a strong connection to international relations and global governance.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology