(v) Encouraging the estabrishment of nuclear-weapon-free zonesi anundertaking on the part of the nuclear StaEes to respecb the status ofthe nuclear-weapon-free zonei commiEnent on their part Eo encouragingStates which express their desire to establish nuclear-hreapon-free zonesiand absLenEion from the adoption of any measures that might impede suchaction.^/ 40/ 4e8 English Page 43 FRANCE lOriginat: Frenchl {Dlarch }9851 1. France voted against General Assembly resolution 39/L48 P becauser in its view, the resolut.ion presents the problems of international security in the nuclear age in terms which do not correspond to reality. 2. Problems of international security cannoE, in fact, be arbitrarily dissociated from one anolher, and the justifiable concern to avoid the outbreak of a nuclear war must. not make us forget that other major priority, t,he prevention of any war of whatever kind. 3. We cannot, lurn back the clock on t,he invention of nuclear neapons. There is nothinE we can say or do to alter this reality. Nuclear weapons will not become "obsolete" and "powerless". Nor will they be exorcized by means of unverifiable agreements which seek to regulaEe Eheir use without in any vtay altering reality, namely, their conEinuing presence in countries' arsenals. 4. For nearly 40 years nor'r, deterrence has contributed to stability and peace among the count.ries of the East and WesE. The European countries, situated on the conEinent with currently the largest accumulalion of weapons of all kinds (nuclear, chemical and convent,ional) r have been spared any major conflict on their own soil thanks Eo deEerrence and the certainty that any aggressor would suffer Eremendous losses on its own territory. 5. In these circumstances, lhe essential factor is not the "increased danger of nuclear war" described by the alarmist sponsors of the resolutions' but rather the maintenance or restoration of balances at the lowesE possible level by means of verif iable agreements. 6. As riras recognized in the Final Document of Ehe first special session of the General Assembly devoted to disarmanent, the two nost, heavily armed Polters, the
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement from France regarding a United Nations General Assembly resolution on nuclear weapons, specifically nuclear-weapon-free zones. The text discusses the history of nuclear weapons, the concept of deterrence, and the need for verifiable agreements to maintain stability and peace. It does not touch on any economic, environmental, or social issues.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology