UN General Assembly
1990

In the longer term, the world community will need to monitor the military power of States, arms supplies and transfers of military technology. Such an approach will be in everyone0s interests and will strengthen stability and trust. Otherwise we shall constantly be confronted with armed conflicts and attempts at intimidation and blackmail. Above all, it will be necessary to keep a close watch on those countries that are making determined efforts to build up the offensive capabilities of their armed forces; we must not only observe what they are doing but also call upon them to explain why it is being done and why it is necessary. Of course the United Nations itself will have to play the primary role in this. But the Organisation will need effective support from regional security structures, which are already becoming a reality in Europe and which we hope will emerge in Asia and the Pacific, in the Middle East, in Central America and elsewhere in the world.