Disarmament Speech

The primary responsibility for disarmament rests on the super powers, and it is for them to take the first step," Igbal Akund, permanent representative to the United Nations from Pakistan, said yesterday.

Akund spoke to about 30 people at 6 Divinity Ave. as part of a bi-monthly series of seminars offered by the Program for Science and International Affairs.

"General and complete disarmament has been and will be the goal," Akund said, adding that any measure of disarmament must keep in mind the balance of power.

"The assumption by the super powers that strategic arms balance is an end in itself is not acceptable," Akund said.

Akund added he does not foresee any resolution of the differences between the "super powers" and the "non-super powers."

Many government budgets show an increase in arms expenditures, Akund said, but added that war cannot resolve the important issues of the shortage of food and energy.

Akund said he was pessimistic about the outcome of the U.N. Special Session on Disarmament.