Former US presidential candidate Senator John Kerry last night called on the world's nuclear powers to establish an internationally controlled bank of nuclear fuel in an attempt to prevent countries such as Iran from developing their own nuclear weapons capability.
Speaking on the theme Security ithe 21st Century at the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster in Derry, Mr Kerry also said that attempts to democratise Muslim countries should not be seen as a crusade, otherwise those attempts would fail.
The Democratic senator, who was defeated by George W Bush in the 2004 presidential campaign, said he believed the "war on terror" was fundamentally a war within Islam for the heart and soul of Islam, adding that no centre of moral authority had emerged to stop those who would murder in the name of Islam.
"Ultimately this is a struggle for the transformation of the greater Middle East into a region that is no longer isolated from the global economy, no longer dependent on despotism for stability, no longer fearful of freedom and no longer content to feed restive and rising populations of unemployed young people a diet of illusions, excuses and dead end government jobs.
"So we have a huge stake in finding partners in the Arab world who are willing not only to lead the transformation of the Middle East, but to re-establish the broad and unchallenged moral authority needed to isolate and defeat terrorists," he said.
"All of the allies, from Europe to the Americas to Asia, must work harder to strengthen our commitment and enhance our efforts to integrate the Middle East into the global economy. This is the only way to stop economic regression, spur investment beyond the oil industry and spark trade, investment and growth in the region. It's the only way to turn young minds and energy away from terror."
Mr Kerry said the US and its allies had to spread the "democratic message" throughout the Arab world in an open, patient and determined way.
"Above all, we must remember democratisation is not a crusade. If it is seen as the result of an army marching through Muslim lands, it will fail."