world, the Conference should not be adapting to the new international circumstances through which we are living and that, if we were to persist in this attitude of not adapting to the reality, we might expose the Conference to a crisis for reasons of ossification or obsolescence. For our part, we would like to stress that in the decalogue that underpins the agenda of this Conference we find the topic of conventional disarmament. Its importance was highlighted as long ago as during the first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmament, in 1978, when the need was stressed to carry out, in parallel with negotiations on nuclear disarmament, negotiations on the balanced reduction of armed forces and of conventional armaments within the context of progress towards general and complete disarmament and with the States that have the largest military arsenals bearing a special responsibility in this respect. The negotiations, it was said, should be carried out on the basis of the principle of undiminished security of the parties and promotion and enhancement of stability at a lower military level. Furthermore, it is widely recognized that conventional weapons consume more than 70 per cent of world spending on armaments; that means a tremendous drain in terms of human, technological and economical resources. These resources could be far better used if they were harnessed for the promotion of our countries' social and economic development. CD/PV.570 33 (Mr. Calderon. Peru) These are the considerations that have led Peru continuously to promote cessation of the conventional arms race. Important precedents that can be adduced in this respect as regards South America are the 1974 declaration of Ayacucho, or the conversations initiated in 1986 between the military authorities of Peru and Chile with the aims of confidence and reducing arms 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the importance of conventional disarmament and the need to redirect resources from armaments to social and economic development. It highlights the significant expenditure on conventional weapons and the potential benefits of using these resources for development. This suggests that the category should be related to economic development and international relations.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade