Global expenditure on armaments should be diverted for development: advisor

Bangladesh called for the diversion of part of huge global expenditure on armaments to poverty alleviation and development, local news agency UNB reported Tuesday.

Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman made the call while speaking at the general debate of the first committee of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, said a press release arrived here Tuesday.

"Such a move would greatly advance the achievement of internationally agreed development goals including the Millenium Development Goals of the UN by 2015," said Reaz Rahman.

He urged all countries to abjure nuclear weapons.

The advisor also stated that Bangladesh has always pursued the goals of disarmament and non-proliferation treaties with great interest.

He mentioned that Bangladesh had also destroyed her land mine stockpile in response to her commitment.

Source: Xinhua