unilateral moratorium, we had to break off a programme of tests without having completed it. During the course of this year prior to the declaration of the moratorium, there were virtually as many nuclear explosions in the USSR as in the United States. If we take all the nuclear tests that have been conducted to date, there have been far more in the United States than in the USSR. They are aware of this in the White House. CD/638 page J But, in deciding on a unilateral moratorium, the Soviet Union was guided not by arithmetic, "but by fundamental political considerations, by a desire to contribute to the halting of the nuclear arms race and to encourage the United States and the other nuclear weapon countries to do the same. Our goal is the complete and general cessation of nuclear weapon tests and not any kind of breathing space between explosions. It is being said that the introduction of a moratorium on nuclear explosions is not in the United States interests. But a moratorium is an important step towards the halting of the further improvement of lethal nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the longer there are no bests, the quicker will be the process of ’’aging" of the weapons in stockpiles. And finally, a moratorium creates the most favourable conditions for the achievement of agreement on the halting of nuclear testing, for progress towards the elimination of nuclear weapons in general . The question then arises what is there in this that is against the interests of the United States, of the American people? The only ones such a course does not suit 'are those who rely on the pressure of force, who nurture plans for the continual creation of new types of nuclear weapon on Earth, who 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic statement or a press release from the Soviet Union, discussing the decision to impose a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. The language used is formal and emphasizes the political and strategic implications of the moratorium, rather than any economic or environmental consequences. The text also highlights the Soviet Union's goal of contributing to the halting of the nuclear arms race and encouraging other countries to do the same.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology