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UNESCO chief asks India, Pakistan to divert resources to development

UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor has warned against the dangers of a new nuclear arms race, and appealed to both India and Pakistan to end their nuclear tests and dedicate more resources to development.

''The recent nuclear tests carried out by India and Pakistan have raised the spectre of a new nuclear arms race which could have grievous consequences for the region and for the world," Mayor said.

''The hope for a peaceful and more just world, born of the end of the Cold War just 10 years ago, is seriously undermined by the start of a macabre competition for military supremacy. Let us not start a new nuclear arms-race,'' a UNESCO statement quoted him as saying.

''As director-general of UNESCO -- an organisation created to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nation through education, science, culture and communication -- I cannot but deplore the nuclear tests carried out and the diversion of resources -- material and intellectual -- to such deadly ends,'' Mayor said.

''Nuclear arms tests represent moral and material waste. They deny the fundamental aspiration of people everywhere to live in peace. For those living in developing countries, who can legitimately expect their governments to focus all their efforts on development, such tests should be particularly disappointing. Furthermore, the long-term damages that nuclear tests can cause to the environment cannot be overlooked,'' the UNESCO chief said.

He said, ''India and Pakistan have shown the world how strong they are. It is my ardent hope that both will now demonstrate that they are also wise, indeed, the course of wisdom would be for both countries to devote the considerable resources they have squandered on weapons of death and destruction, to education and capacity-building, so they may achieve the level of endogenous development to which their peoples rightfully aspire.

''The peoples of the world are entitled to recover the hope they have now lost, as peace is the pre-requisite for four shared goals of development, justice and freedom. This is why UNESCO is calling on all states to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty and to adhere to their principles. Stop buying and selling technology of mass destruction now.''

UNI

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