Opening the general debate on the international situation, Annan said the world was still far from achieving the primary task laid by the founders of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and international terrorism.

At the same time he said that individual states should not be looking for solutions via aggression, taking a side swipe at the United States of America for using missiles ``to combat terrorism''.

``Meanwhile, the spectre of nuclear annihilation continues to haunt us. As you know, two new members have chosen this year to conduct their nuclear tests,'' he added.

That was all Annan had to say on the nuclear issue, and diplomats were rather surprised that the UN chief did notelaborate either on nuclear proliferation or on the larger and more fundamental question of total elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

Speaking at length about terrorism, Annan called it a global menace and one that clearly called for global action. ``Individual action by member states, whether aimed at state or non-state actors, could not in themselves provide a solution, he said referring to the recent US bombings of Sudan and Aghanistan. ``We must meet this threat together.''

Making a brief reference to the unresolved conflicts in Afghanistan and in the Serbian province of Kosovo, he said, ``Once again we find ourselves deploying desperate humanitarian efforts to deal with consequences, when we should be addressing the political roots of conflict.'' He hoped that the Security Council which had both these conflicts on its agenda would find effective ways of recalling the parties to their obligations under the charter.

``We are not going to tear up the charter and write a newone. Nor will we produce a blueprint for utopia. What we must do is to identify a select few of the world's most pressing problems, and set ourselves a precise, achievable programme for dealing with them.''

Annan also dwelt at some length on the global financial crisis and suggested that the day was past when the seven major industralised powers could or should take on the task of resolving the world economic crisis alone.

Annan also told world leaders that the UN could not continue to function on ``a starvation diet'' of finances and appealed to those member states who have been in arrears of their dues to the world organisation.

``Stringence is one thing, a starvation diet quite another, he said in reference to the $2.3 billion owed to the United Nations.

Of this amount, Washington owes $1.6 billion, and Clinton's domestic problems make it unlikely the Republican-controlled Congress will allow this appropriation to go through on terms the administration can accept.