ABSTRACT
Progress or lack of progress, in the field of arms control is determined mainly by national interests. The United Nation (UN) General Assembly provides opportunities for making official statements as well as for holding informal discussions. The 1978 General Assembly Special Session devoted to disarmament was convened to work out a disarmament strategy, to improve the machinery for discussing arms control and to stimulate public interest in disarmament. The UN Security Council has as one of its statutory responsibilities the formulation of plans for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. It is to be assisted in this work by the Military Staff Committee, consisting of the chiefs of staff of the permanent members of the Council or their representatives. The principal UN Secretariat unit dealing with arms control matters is the Centre for Disarmament, headed by an Assistant Secretary-General, but forming part of the Department for Political and Security Council Affairs.
