UN CONFERENCE ON NON-PROLIFERATION

In his opening speech for the U.N. conference on the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned of the possibility of a new arms race when theu US would go ahead with its plans for a missile defence shield. The one-month conference will review the progress made under the 1968 Nonproliferation treaty.

The US denies that it is threatening the ABM treaty with these plans for a new antimissile defense system.