82.AGroupofSocialist Countries reiterated itsfirmbeliefthattherewasnomoreurgenttaskthantoprevent anuclear warandthat,towards thatend,itwasnecessary toadoptappropriate andpractical measures ascalledforin resolution 39/148p. Theydeplored theopoosition ofagroupofStatesthatonceagainhadprevented theConference fromdischarging itsdutiesasthemultilateral negotiating bodywithrespect tothismost impo~tant question.Whileexpressing theiropposition toanywar,theyunderlined theirviewthatconventionaJ andnuclear warswereofanentirely different nature, giventheglobalcatastrophic consequences ofthelatterandthewidelysharedconvictionthattherecouldbenowinners inanuclear warwhichmightwellbringtheendofthehumancivilization andlifeonEarth. Theyalsofeltthatinthepre~entinternational circumstances itwasimperative toavoidextension ofthearmsracetoouterspace. Thiswouldbeasignificant contribution tothepreventionofanuclear war.Socialist countries reiterated theproposals contained indocuments CD/355andCD/484. Intheirview,allthoseproposals remainedvalid. Theyunderlined theimportance ofunconditional commitments byallnuclear weaponStatesnottobethefirsttousenuclear weapons, notedthedeclarations madeinthatconnection bytwonuclear weaponStatesandcalledupontheothernuclear weaponStatesthathadnotyetmadedeclarations ofnon-first-use ofnuclear weapons, todoso.Intheiropinion, suchunilateralundertakings couldbeincorporated inaunified instrument ofinternational law,whichinpractice wouldbeequivalent tothecomplete legalprohibition oftheuseofnucl~ar weapons. ThoseSocialist countries alsoreiterated theirsupport fortheproposal toconclude aconvention ontheprohibition oftheuseofnuclear wea~ons, withtheparticipation ofallnu~lear weaponStates. Inaddition, theyrecalled thattheyhadproposed thegeneralexclusion oftheuseofforcefrominternational relations. Another prioritymeasure, intheirview,wouldbeanagreement byallnuclear weaponStatestofreezequantitatively andqualitatively theirnuclear arsenals underappropriate verification. Intheiropinion, this.step couldbetakeninthefirstinstance bytheUnionofSovietSocialist Republics andtheUnitedStatesofAmerica, ontheunderstanding thattheothernuclear weaponStateswouldfollowtheirexample. Theyaisoconsidered thatsuchmeasures asatreatyonthecomplete andgeneral prohibition ofnuclear weapontests,thepreventionof"further proliferation ofnuclear weapons, including universal adherence totheTreatyontheNon-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, theprevention ofanarmsraceinotherhigh-risk areas,e.g.,outerspace,wouldundOUbtedlycontribute toaverting thethreatofnuclear war.TheSocialist Statesalsoexpressed readiness toconsider various confidence-building measures,suchastheprevention ofaccidental orunauthorized useofnuclear weaponsandtheavoidance ofthepossibility ofsurprise attacks.'1 lotion i mt .on w,83.Western delegations emphasized thatthequestion oftheprevention ofnuclear warcouldnotbedealtwithinisolation fromtheunderlying basicsecurity situation andthat,intheirview,thequestion atissuewastheprevention ofwar inallitsdimensions inthenuclear age.Theirconcern wasthatconventional war,initselfdestructive totheextreme, couldeasily,inthenuclear age, escalate intonuclear war.Already on18March,aproposal (CD/S78) hadbeen submitted byaWestern delegation containing criteria thataworkformatwould havetomeetinordertoallowtheconsideration ofagendaitem3inamanner satisfactory ~oall.TheWestern approaoh hadbeenreflected inthedraft resolution thatWestern delegations hadsupported atthethirty-ninth session of theGeneral Assembly (A/C.l/39/L.40/Rev.l). Western delegations reiterated the paramount importanc:e ofstrictcompliance byallStateswiththeCharter ofthe UnitedNations, inparticular theobligation torefrain fromthethreatoruseof forceandtosettlealldisputes bypeaceful means. Recalling theirbeliefthata nuclear warcannotbewonandmustneverbefought, theynotedthatinthepresent circumstances thebalance neededformaintaining peaceandsecurity depended on nuclear, aswellasconventional forces. Thesamedelegations recalled theirview thatadeclaration ontheprohibition ofuseorfirstuselimited tonuclear weapons wouldbeunverifiable byitsverynatureandwouldfailtoprevent armed conflict. Thosedelegations stressed thattheirweapons, nuclear andconventional, weresolelydesigned toprevent warbydeterring aggression andthatnoneoftheir weapons, nuclear orconventional, wouldeverbeusedexceptinresponse toarmed attack. Theyfurther believed thatakeyelementinreducing theriskofnuclear warwastheachievement ofdeepandverifiable reductions ofnuclear weapons. Theyconsidered thatanother majorelement wastheefforttoensurethe non-proliferation ofnuclear weapons and,tothatend,thosedelegations whichare partytotheNon-Proliferation Treatycalledforuniversal adherence tothat Treaty. Inthiscontext, thesamedelegations addedthattheproliferation of nuclear weapons undertheguiseofso-called peaceful nuclear explosions wasof particular concern. The"Western delegations further pointed outthesignificant contribution ofconfidence-building measures todiminish thedangerofwarand thereby nuclear war,byimproving theinternational political climate, andof measures against sur~rise attackandtoreducetheriskoftheaccidental useof nuclear weapons. Inthecourseofthedebate, reference wasmadeto documents CD/3S7, CD/380, CD/4Il, CD/S78andCD/S81submitted byvarious Western delegations; Someofthesedelegations furtherstatedthattheprevention of nuclear w~r,including allrelated matters, affected andwastheresponsibility of allStatesandwasamenable tomultilateral consideration. Asthesingle multilateral disarmament negotiating forum,theConference onDisarmament was therefore anappropriate organtodealwiththesequestions. Western delegations, fortheirpart,notedtherigidpositions onprocedural matters ofsomeother delegations. 84.Otherdelegations feltthattheabovestatements wereseriously compromised sincethedelegations makingthemwereamongthosethathadrepeatedly blocked the formation ofanAd'HocCommittee onitem3underthemandate contained in CD/SlS/Rev.1. 8S.Western delegations notedthattheinabilfty oftheirgrouptosupport the mandate contained inCD/S15/Rev.l innowaydetracted from,orcompromised their commitment to,theprevention ofnuclear war. -31- --, I I 86.Manydelegations ofStatesnotParties totheTreatyontheNon-Proliferation ofNuclear Weapons, statedthattheactualandincreasing proliferation ofnuolear weapons initsvertical andgeographic dimensions, aspromoted andcondoned bythe nuclear weaponpowers, underthegUiseofso-called theories oftheirnational security, wasofgreatconcern tomanynon-nuclear weaponStatesandtopeoples fromallovertheworld. Anumberofdelegations heldthattoassociate the prevention ofhorizontal proliferation ofnuclear weapons withtheprevention of nuclear warw~sanattempt madebynuclear-weapon Statesandtheiralliesto divertattention fromtheactualthreatofannihilation posedbyexisting nuclear weapons. Theyfurtherstatedthatthereference topeaceful nuclear explosions
**Analysis**
The text discusses the prevention of nuclear war and the need for international cooperation to achieve this goal. It highlights the importance of reducing nuclear arsenals, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and promoting confidence-building measures. The text also touches on the issue of disarmament and the role of the Conference on Disarmament in addressing these concerns.

**Category**
International relations, Security and disarmament