New York, Sep 24 (DPA) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wednesday urged world leaders to work towards a “global society” and improve cooperation on curbing global warming, nuclear proliferation, terrorism and economic recovery.
Brown said the global economic crisis of the last year had demonstrated how governments can work together to avert disaster, but he warned that cooperation was lacking on a whole host of other global issues.
If world powers could renew that cooperation, Brown said, “I believe we are in the business … of creating a truly global society.”
Brown said the world was in danger of reversing decades of success in limiting nuclear proliferation and said major powers should be prepared to adopt stiffer sanctions on Iran and North Korea.
“Let their be no ambiguity: Iran and North Korea must now know that the world will be even tougher on nonproliferation,” Brown said.
He proposed a “grand bargain” in which existing nuclear states would offer access to civilian power to non-nuclear states.
Brown called on Western powers not to give up on the war in Afghanistan, warning that Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups would otherwise return to the region.
“None of us can be safe if we walk away from that country,” Brown said, amid wavering from other European allies after a disputed election and deadly fighting against the Taliban.
Brown also called on world leaders to join a December summit in Copenhagen that is aimed at hammering out a new global treaty to tackle climate change. He argued only the presence of world leaders could assure a strong outcome.
“Despite the progress we have made, the road to a successful outcome in Copenhagen is not assured,” Brown said.
Brown said wealthy nations had to commit more funds to help developing nations adapt to climate change, as well as more aid to keep the world’s poorest from plunging even further into poverty.
Brown said the Group of 20 nations summit beginning Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, should agree to a “global compact for jobs and growth” and he warned against governments pulling back too soon from public spending measures to stabilize their economies.
“We do not and must not turn off the life support for our economy prematurely,” Brown said.
