between the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and the social Democratic Party of Germany on the establishment of a zone free of chemical weapons, which climaxed in the presentation of the political initiative known to you. JSM/gmr A/C.l/40/PV.4 47 (Mr. Ott, German Democratic Republic) "Next to nuclear weapons, chemical weapons are the most dangerous means of mass destruction. It is a matter of utmost urgency to prohibit and completely eliminate them. What is needed are resolute efforts both on a global and regional scale.• (A/C.l/40/2, p. 2) Moreover, chemical warfare agents are a particularly cruel category of weapons of mass destruction. Their use is banned under the Geneva Protocol of 1925 but not their production, stockpiling and further development. Hence, there exist today huge stockpiles of such weapons in Europe which, according to available official information, consist of thousands of tons and could destroy the entire population of the continent. Even in times of peace technical defects in stockpiled chemical agents could have disastrous consequences for everything alive within a wide radius. The establishment of a chemical-weapon-free zone would considerably diminish the risk of a Bhopal catastrophe and of a chemical war on the European continent. It would curb the danger of a proliferation of this type of weapon and would also contribute to destroying chemical weapons world-wide. With these considerations in mind, the German Democratic Republic and the Czechoslovak SOcialist Republic declared their readiness to conclude with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany an agreement on the establishment of a chemical-weapon-free zone on the territories of these three States, to begin with, that are situated right along the dividing line between the two military alliances in Europe. Such a zone would be open to other States for accession. The establishment of such a zone would be a practical and verifiable partial 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the establishment of a chemical-weapon-free zone, which is a security and disarmament issue. It highlights the dangers of chemical weapons and the need for international cooperation to eliminate them. The text also mentions the potential benefits of such a zone, including reducing the risk of chemical warfare and proliferation.

**Category**
International relations, Security