text: May I add at the end of the list another question that is still unresolved, that of old chemical weapons, which has been very disappointing? The first round of consultations held in the spring gave hope that it would be possible to establish directions. But since then that initial result has dwindled and the substantive treatment of this still uncertain subject will have to be postponed. But I would draw from this a more general lesson which applies both to the historic sequels of old conflicts and to certain regional situations to which some are too ready to refer in order to establish a link between chemical disarmament and nuclear disarmament. You cannot ask the convention to settle questions that are not within its purview, whether these are unsettled consequences of past wars or current regional crises. Having thus rapidly reviewed the main topics, I come back to what I said at the outset about the general hesitation which seems to have taken hold of the Committee to try to understand the situation in which we now find CD/PV.570 16 (Mr, Morel, Francs) ourselves: the negotiations are at once coming to maturity and seizing up and it is no longer possible to deal with questions on a case-by-case basis. What we have is, so to speak, a vehicle that is both advancing and going backwards, and this situation cannot last. Preparations must therefore be made to deal with the main topics together, and that can only come about through a collective political approach. It seems to us that the time has come to resort to the formula of a ministerial conference, but taking care to spell out the conditions of it very clearly, because the undertaking would be pointless unless it led to the conclusion of the negotiations.
analysis: The text appears to be discussing a multilateral diplomatic process, specifically the Conference on Disarmament, and the challenges of negotiating disarmament agreements. The language used is formal and diplomatic, and the focus is on the process of negotiations rather than any specific economic, environmental, or social issue.