subsequent total elimination, the Soviet and American agreements on their respective strategic arsenals should lead before the end of the year, to a first treaty on the reduction of the most destabilizing and offensive nuclear weapons. But what is even more important is that they have established a process aimed at additional negotiations on reductions in strategic arsenals. These achievements, combined with the prospect of the conclusion of CFE I in Vienna and with a new SNF negotiation in Europe are proof that progress in the field of nuclear disarmament has indeed been very significant as a result of the priority legitimately attached to it by a great number of countries. For this reason, too, we are hoping that the coming Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty will be able to register even greater support for its duration and objectives of non-proliferation. Italy still believes that a nuclear-test ban is an important objective in disarmament which should be attained through a gradual approach allowing for decreasing testing exercises. Solving problems connected with seismic-verification techniques, with the setting up of an international CD/PV.571 8 (Mr. Bottai. Italy) data-exchange network and with identification of other reliable systems of detection, requires further study. We trust that these objectives will be reached in a speedier way so as to avoid the repetition of experiences such as the one on the so-called negative security assurances. We hope that the long period of time unproductively spent in the search for a formula meant to combine the divergent strategic concepts of the nuclear-weapon States with the expectations of the non-nuclear-weapon States, not to be attacked or to be threatened by nuclear attack, will be considered in the light of recent international developments as belonging to the pre-history of disarmament. It is necessary to make sure that the remaining time available to the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on international diplomacy and disarmament, specifically discussing nuclear weapons and the progress made in reducing them. It also mentions the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the need for further study on seismic-verification techniques. The tone is formal and official, suggesting a governmental or diplomatic context.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology