2- while the scope of General Assembly resolut ion 39/L48 p is directed primarilyat removing the threat of nuclear war, in the view of the Netherlands, Ehe removalof this threat cannot be considered in isolation from the threat of war withconventional means. This is the central thesis of drafE resolutionA/c.l/3g/L.40lRev.1 - the draft on ttris subject submitted by a number of westernStates - which the Netherlands supports. The North Attant,ic Treaty OrganizaEion(NATO) made the fundamental pledge that none of its rrreapons will ever be used,except in response to attack. This pledge is in full conformity with the Charterof the United Nations, which allows for the exercise of the inherent right ofindividual or collective self-defence. This pledge does not in any uay belittlethe fundamental difference between nuclear and conventional weapons or diminish theimportance of lessening the E,hreat of nuclear nar. On the contrary, it is based onthe view that a like1y cause of nuclear rrar is escalation of conventionalconflict. Furthermore, the Netherlands points to the NATO-policy to reduce therole of nuclear weapons. llore in particular it recalls the NATo-decisions towithdraw unilat,erally sorne 2r4OO nuclear weapons. 3. The Netherlands cannot subscribe to the not.ion that. the danger of a nuclearwar has increased in recent years, as implied in General Assembly resolution39/L48 P. There seems to be no evidence Eo substantiate this claim. 4- The Netherlands is of the opinion that the prevention of nuclear war is anatEer of concern not only for the nuclear-weapon States and t,heir allies but, inview of the potentially global consequences, for all other States as well. Itagrees therefore with the consideration in General Assembly resolution 39/I4B ptbat the prevention of a nuclear war is a problem Ehat cannot be left to thenuclear-weaPon states alone. AE the same time however, iE cannot be denied thatnuclear-weapon States, in particular the ones with the largest nuclear arsenals,have a special responsibility and a primary role Eo play.A/ 40/ 498 English Page 59 5. The Netherlands hopes therefore that it will prove possible for the UniLed States and the Soviet. Union to agree in their bilateral negoEiations on significant and balanced reductions of their nuclear arsenals. A posiEive outcome of these negoLiaEions will be conducive to the irnprovement of East-West relations and thereby to the goal of prevenEing nuclear war' 6. The Netherlands attaches great value to agreements of a practical nature, such
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the threat of war, specifically nuclear war, and the efforts to prevent it. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting that it may be a statement or a resolution from an international organization or a government. The text mentions the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations, which further supports the idea that it is a formal document related to international relations.

**Category**
International relations