of Ghana, 1rhen he nominated me at the first meeting of the Committee. It 1ras :my pri viler-;e last year to serve as one of his Vice·-Chairmen and I uas much struck by his ene;ac;ine; personality and negotiating ability. BliS/ed A/C.l/33/PV.2 6 I aru. certain that I ruil expressin~ the sentiments of all r,lembers of the CodLlittee uhen I extend to ilh1bassador Gbei10 our con::;ratulations and [,rectitude for the exemplary Ic\anner in which he presided over our deliberations at the t.llirty···seventh session of the General i\.ssedbly. I am thus fully auare that I am follmrinc; a succession of distinL>uishecl C1ktirro1en. iTho presided ably and skilfully over the vorL of this Coiilllli ttee. I shall spare neither effort nor time to assist delegations in our coiill!lon endeavours. In so doinl:, _ I count on the constructive co·-·operation and assistance of the Co!1lillittee' s entire membership. It is t..;ratifyin.:.; to knov that I can count also on the most valuable e;,;:perience, competence and profound lmouledGe of ~11y friends ~ the Under-·8ecretary -General for Political and Security Council Affairs, :i:lr • Viacheslav A. Ustinov 1 the Uncler· Becretary-·Genero.l for the Department for Disarmament Affairs; llr. Jan llartenson, and the Secreta.ry of the Co"1:rmittee, IIr. i.Iaeem nathore and his collea~ues. I rua. certain that~ the First Cor;L.,littee uill fully benefit from their experience and ue look forvarc1. to their co--operation 111 dealing i-Tith the many important issues before this Conn:1ittee. The agenda for today; s 111eetinc; concerns the election of tile Vice-·Chairr1en and the orcanization o-z ;.;ark· If I hear no objectionc I shall consider tho:t the a.:_;enu.c. J.S ac1opted by the Couliui tt ee. The CHiHHlffi.H: Before taldn._; up tl1e items on our agenda._ I shoulC. lil~e to urau the attention of the Icle-~ioers of the CmJ:itlittee to the uecision of -t.lle 