UN meeting on disarmament re-affirms commitment to progress. Representatives of 65 nations attending a high-level Conference on Disarmament at UN headquarters in New York, USA began with discussions about a new treaty to ban production of fissile material, which is used in nuclear weapons. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke of the urgency to advance such a mission.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (M): “Since the MDGs were first articulated a decade ago, world military expenditure has risen by 50 per cent to more than 1.5 trillion dollars. Imagine what we could do if we devoted these resources to poverty reduction, climate change mitigation, food security, global health and other global development challenges. Disarmament and non-proliferation are essential across the board, not simply for international peace and security.”

VOICE: In seeking ways to maintain momentum on the international disarmament process, some representatives suggested a structural change for the meetings such as changing a current rule that requires all 65 member states to agree on decisions. Meanwhile, attendees conveyed their wish to allocate military budgets for more constructive purposes, saying that peaceful diplomacy is optimal for international relations. Our accolades, Your Excellencies, for your commitment to measures that bring international safety and peace. Our best wishes for continued progress as we look forward to a world of harmony and respect among all global citizens.