UN urges money to fight poverty, not for arms

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday urged all countries to devote as much money as possible to fighting poverty and limit military spending to the lowest level to ensure security.

The statement was read at the end of a day-long open meeting organized by Costa Rica, which holds the council's rotating presidency this month. It said the council "remains convinced of the necessity to strengthen international peace and security through ... disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control."

Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias Sanchez, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987, said Article 26 of the U.N. Charter calls for the council to formulate plans to …