I now give the floor to the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable William Waldegrave, M.P. Mr. WALDEGRAVE (United Kingdom): Mr. President, thank you very much indeed for your kind introduction, and it is indeed good to be back with the Conference on Disarmament once more. I am delighted, if I may say so, to be here at the time of your presidency. Poland and the United Kingdom have a long history of close relations and, as my statement will mainly concern the chemical weapons negotiations, it is particularly appropriate to make it under the presidency of an Ambassador who has twice filled with such distinction the post of Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons. Since my visit to the Conference on Disarmament last year, there have been dramatic changes to the political landscape of Europe. I cannot claim that all of them were the result of the increase in my responsibilities at the Foreign Office, but it has certainly been a most fascinating time to have some small part in these events. These changes were reflected in the Declaration issued in London last week by the NATO summit meeting. This was widely reported in our press and elsewhere, I think, as marking the end of the cold war. As the Declaration said, "The walls that once confined people and ideas are collapsing ... Europeans are determining their own destiny ... They are choosing freedom ... They are choosing peace". CD/PV.564 3 (Mr. Waldegrave, United Kingdom) This improved political climate has already given rise to significant progress in arms control. Much progress has been made towards completing a START agreement. An agreement on limiting conventional arms in Europe has been given high priority. Further conventional arms limitations are envisaged.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech delivered by a government official, discussing international relations, disarmament, and arms control agreements. The tone is formal and diplomatic, suggesting a focus on international politics and security. The language used is technical and specific, with references to international organizations and agreements.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology