progress has been registered on the major issues of our agenda. Indeed, if we take only the very first item on our agenda, "Nuclear test ban", despite the high priority attached to it and the prevailing urgent desire by the international community to achieve a comprehensive test-ban treaty at an early date, nuclear tests are still being conducted and the sophistication and CD/PV.547 11 (Ms. Sinegiorgis, Ethiopia ) proliferation of nuclear weapons continues to be humanity's major preoccupation. The lack of an adequate verification mechanism, which is the usual argument for delaying negotiations on this important issue, cannot of course be considered valid. Notwithstanding this and despite the unceasing efforts and numerous initiatives made so far, the CD has not been able to set up an ad hoc committee, let alone begin substantive negotiations on a comprehensive test ban. In this respect, my delegation highly appreciates the consultations being carried out by His Excellency Ambassador Donowaki of Japan on the establishment of an ad hoc committee on the basis of the Vejvoda proposal, without prejudice to our original positions, of course. The progress report by His Excellency Ambassador Donowaki in his statement of 27 March 1990, that all groups have agreed to work towards consensus on the basis of the draft mandate contained in document CD/863, is indeed encouraging. In particular, we are satisfied by his assessment that "this new development indeed represents a major breakthrough, and confirms the readiness of the Conference to resume substantial work in the ad hoc committee under agenda item 1". We hope that this positive trend will allow us to establish the ad hoc committee on a CTB before the end of our spring session. In our view, the current international situation is favourable for such an undertaking - and we should 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic statement discussing a specific issue on the agenda of an international conference. The issue is related to nuclear tests and the establishment of an ad hoc committee to work on a comprehensive test ban treaty. The language used is formal and diplomatic, with no mention of economic or social development, agriculture, forestry, fishing, industry, transport, communication, international trade, health, education, employment, or humanitarian aid and relief. The focus is on international relations, diplomacy, and nuclear disarmament.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology