UN General Assembly
1988

"We must learn to think in a new way. We have to learn to ask ourselves, not what steps can be taken to give military victory to whatever group we prefer, for there no longer are such steps·, the question we have to ask ourselves is: What step can be taken to prevent a military contest of which the issue must be disaster for all parties?" Since then, these perceptions have been shared worldwide. It is true that, in the nuclear age, violence, war and confrontation have become unsuitable means of politics. Security can no longer be based on mountains of weapons, or mutual deterrence. Deterrence means - otherwise it would not be credible - perpetuation of the arms race. Deterrence counts on fear, engenders distrust and it can fail - not only in the event of irrational action but also because it is becoming more and more difficult for man to manage the highly sophisticated weapons systems.