possible areasfordisarmament andconfidence-building measures. 2.Thepresent reporthasbeenprepared pursuant tothatresolution andcontains eightchapters. Chapter Iisabroadintroduction tothesubject asawhole; chapter 11describes theprincipal reasons forthedevelopment ofnaval capabilities; chapter IIIaddresses ingenetal termsexisting navalfotces and navalarmssystems; chapter IVconsiders theapplications andusesofnaval capabilities; chaptet Vdesctibes thematitime legalcontext, inpatticulat the effects oftheUnitedNations Convention ontheLawoftheSea(refetted to hereinaftet astheConvention ontheLawoftheSea);chapter VIanalyses the implications ofthesefactors forintetnational security andthepeaceful usesof thesea;chapter VIIattempts toidentify possible measures fotdisatmament and confidence-building; chapter VIIIcontains theGroupofEXpetts' summaty and conclusions. A.Purposes andobjectives ofthestudy 3.Some71petcentoftheeatth's surface issea,andovertwothitdsofthe world's humaninhabitants livewithin 300kilometres (km)ofaseacoast,yetfot theverylatgemajority; thesignificance ofthesea,itstesources, itspresent andpotential benefits andtheimpactotdevelopments atseaapparently desetve onlypassing considetatton. 4.Todate,littleattention hasbeenpaidinmultilateral disatmament negotiations tothecontinuing development ofnavalforcesandnavalatmssystems andtheaddeddimension andimplications thishasgiventotheproblems of international security. However, thernoderni2ation andexpansion otnavies andthe increased sophistication ofnaval-based armssystems 1ngeneral havecreated new andenlatged operational capabilities, especially amongnuclear-weapon States and othermilitarily significant States, andhavegiventisetoconcetn amongmany nations. Theyareconcetned aboutthepossible effects ontheprospects fotglobal disatmament andonthefreedom ofthehighseas,theprinciple ofnon-intetfetence withintetnational seacommunications fottradeandshipping andwiththeeconomic exploitation ofmarine reSources. /...A/40/535 Enqlish Paqe9 5.Onereasonforthelackofattention tothenavalarmsraceinmultilateral disarmament neqotiations hasbeenthedifficulty indiscussinq suchmatters aslonq asneqotiations onthelawoftheseahadnotbeenconcluded andtheleqal situation wasunclear. TheConvention ontheLawoftheSea,whichwassignedat Montego Bay,Jamaica, on10December 1982,embodied existinq andnewprinciples in theleqalreqimegoverning theuseOfoceanspace.11Itisnowintheprocess of ratification byStates. OncetheConvention isinforce,discussions pertaining to theissuesofthenavalarmsrace,measures fornavaldisarmament andrelated Questions miqhtthusbecarried outonafirmerbasis. Thismatterisaddressed in moredetailinchapter V. 6.Inresolution 38/188 G,theGeneral Assembly hasunderlined theparamount importance, fortbesecurity andwell-being ofallnations, forinternational trade andshipping andfortheeconomic exploitation ofmarineresources, ofpreserving thefreedom ofthehiqhSeasandofkeeping openinternational seacommunications fortradeandShipping inamannerconsistent witbtheCharter oftheUnited Nations andwiththeprinciples ofinternational law.Theseconsiderations, toqether withrecentdevelopments inthelawofthesea,arereflected inthe purposes ofthestudy,whichareasfollows: (a)Todrawattention toanaspectoftbecompetitive accumulation ofarmS whichcarries majorimplications forinternational security: (b)Todescribe thevarious factors andinteractive effects ofcertain major developments inthemaritime envir~nment: (c)Toanalyse theimplications forinternational ofthehiqhseas,forinternational shipping routesand marine resources. 7.Theobjectives ofthestUdyaretwofold:security, forthefreedom fortheexploitation of * (a)Topromote awiderinternational understanding oftheissuesinvolved, (b)Tofacilitate theidentification ofpossible areasfornegotiation Of' confidence-building anddisarmament measures ontheworld's seasasaconstituent partofthedisarmament process asawhole~ B.Relevant principles oftheFinalDocument andthe Un~tedNations Convention ontheLawoftheSea 8.TheFinalDocument adopted 'byconsensus bytheGeneral Assembly atitstenth special session, thefirstspecial session devoted todisarmament, in1978wasof majorsiqnificance inthatitsetoutaninternational disarmament strateqy.1/
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the naval arms race and its implications on international security, freedom of the high seas, and the economic exploitation of marine resources. It also mentions the importance of preserving the freedom of the high seas and keeping open international sea communications for trade and shipping. The text seems to be focused on the international relations and diplomacy aspects of naval capabilities, rather than the economic or environmental aspects.

**Category**
Transport and communication, International trade