Tokyo Asks Tighter Reins on Arms

Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, at a U.N.-sponsored disarmament conference in Kyoto, called Monday for stricter control of international arms trade in light of the Persian Gulf War.

“International arms transfer, access to weapons-related technologies and arms proliferation together enabled Iraq to build an enormous military machine far exceeding any realistic self-defense needs,” Kaifu said on the first day of the four-day conference.

“To prevent the emergence of a second or third Iraq, I firmly believe a concerted effort by the international community is urgently needed to seriously address the disarmament issues of foremost importance.”

Kaifu urged that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty be strengthened, adding that Japan is encouraging non-member countries to reconsider their positions on the treaty.

In Israel, meanwhile, Defense Minister Moshe Arens called for the immediate convening of an international conference of weapons buyers and suppliers to curb a Middle East arms race.

“That is the major source of instability and if, God forbid, there’s going to be another war, that will be the reason,” said Arens, whose country is the main military power in a region bristling with arms.