opportunity afforded to me today to take the floor at the Conference on Disarmament, this crucial multilateral negotiating forum in the field of disarmament, in whose work I had occassion to participate relatively recently. It is pleasant to see in this hall the familiar faces of my old colleagues and friends from our work in the Conference on Disarmament, and also to welcome the new ambassadors appointed as representatives of Kenya, the Netherlands, China, Japan, Canada, Venezuela, the United States, Mexico and in particular the representative of Czechoslovakia, Juraj Krâlik, who is attending a meeting of the Conference for the first time today. I should like to ask the delegations of these countries to convey to their former heads. Ambassadors Simon Bullut, Robert van Schaik, Fan Guoxiang, Chusei Yamada, Montigny Marchand, Adolfo Raul Taylhardat, Max Friedersdorf , Alfonso Garcia Robles and Vratislav Vajnar, my very best wishes in their future life and work. In connection with the forthcoming departure of the distinguished representative of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ambassador Paul Joachim von Stiilpnagel, I should like to express my regret at the fact that his departure from Geneva will prevent my wife and myself from maintaining our warm and friendly contacts with him and his wife, Carola. I wish him every success in his new important post. I have also received information regarding the forthcoming departure from Geneva of the CD/PV.553 12 (Mr. Nazarkin. USSR) representative of Brazil, Ambassador Marcos Azambuja, on his appointment to an important new post. In addition to my regret at his departure, I should like to ask the delegation of Brazil to convey to Ambassador Azambuja my sincere congratulations. I am pleased once again to see here in this room the Deputy Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, Vicente Berasategui, who is making an exceptionally useful and highly qualified contribution to the work of the Conference.
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a speech or statement made by a diplomat or representative of a country at the Conference on Disarmament. The content focuses on greetings, farewells, and expressions of gratitude to colleagues and representatives, with no mention of specific policies or initiatives related to the categories listed. The text is formal and diplomatic in tone, suggesting that it is related to international relations or diplomacy.

**Category**
International relations