Ex-nuke negotiators applaud U.N. action

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Four former Washington arms control negotiators Thursday hailed the U.N. Security Council's unanimous approval of a nuclear disarmament resolution.

"The Summit in the U.N. Security Council brings much-needed global focus to the risks posed by the spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear know-how and nuclear material," read a joint statement issued former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Henry Kissinger; former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.

The quartet has worked together in a non-partisan effort to build support to reduce nuclear arsenals worldwide. Kissinger was secretary of state for President Richard Nixon, Shultz served under President Ronald Reagan, Perry was President Bill Clinton's defense secretary and Nunn, a Democrat from Georgia, was chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1986-1995.

"By convening heads of state, the meeting can help build the necessary political will around the urgent steps required to reduce nuclear dangers," they said.