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Tighter Security Urged vs. Nuclear, Chemical Weapons
Monday, October 01, 2001
The Manila Bulletin

UNITED NATIONS -- Reuters
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan urged tighter international measures yesterday against nuclear, chemical, and biological arms, saying the hijack attacks on the United States would have been far more devastating if weapons of mass destruction had been used.

The UN leader made the appeal in a speech drafted to mark the opening of a five-day debate of the 189-nation General Assembly on a long-term global strategy against terrorism.

"It is hard to imagine how the tragedy of 11 September could have been worse. Yet the truth is that a single attack involving a nuclear or biological weapon could have killed millions," Annan said in prepared remarks.

"While the world was unable to prevent the attacks, there is much we can do to help prevent future terrorist acts carried out with weapons of mass destruction," he said, urging full implementation of existing treaties on these arms and closer international cooperation.
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