Annan presented an apocalyptic warning as he
lobbied for new, common steps after the deep
divisions that opened up within the United Nations
over the Iraq war in 2003.
"We must strengthen
our collective defences," he told an
international conference of top security
officials.
"If New York or
London or Paris or Berlin were hit by a nuclear
terrorist attack, it might not only kill hundreds
of thousands in an instant," he said,
"it could also devastate the global economy,
thereby plunging millions into poverty in
developing nations."
The UN plans call for
tougher rules to prevent the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, a trust fund to help poorer
countries fight terrorism, a drive to strengthen
public health defences against germ warfare and a
quicker action against potential threats.
Annan suggested tougher
inspection rules for nuclear installations and
incentives for countries to stop uranium
enrichment that could be used to make nuclear
bombs. He also said UN countries should adopt a
common definition of terrorism and then draft an
anti-terrorism convention, which should include
financial help for nations to meet
counterterrorism commitments.
"The United Nations
must show zero tolerance of terrorism of any kind,
for any reason," Annan said.
He has invited world
leaders to a summit at UN headquarters in
September to approve the plans.
In a more immediate
appeal, he urged NATO and the European Union to do
more to help end the conflict and resulting
humanitarian disaster in Sudan's Darfur region.
"People are dying
every single day, while we fail to protect
them," he said.
German Foreign Minister
Fischer broadly backed Annan's security reform
plans and urged the United States - as the world's
most powerful nation - to play a leading role.
Fischer also called on
Washington to play a more active role in
European-led diplomatic efforts to ensure Iran
does not develop nuclear weapons. "If the
United States were to engage positively, and I'm
aware of how difficult that is, it would
substantially strengthen the European drive,"
he said.
More broadly, he urged the
European Union and the United States to work more
closely as "the backbone of a new world order
in the 21st century."
Annan's call for greater collective security came
after U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
acknowledged Saturday that even the United States
cannot battle terrorism and other world threats on
its own.
"One nation cannot
defeat the extremists alone," Rumsfeld said.
"It will take the co-operation of many
nations to stop the proliferation of dangerous
weapons."
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