CTV : Iran president rebukes U.S., Britain in UN speech

Iran president rebukes U.S., Britain in UN speech

CTV.ca News Staff | September 19, 2006

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sharply critical of the United States and Britain in his address before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, accusing the two nations of using the Security Council only to advance their own interests.

"The question needs to be asked: if the governments of the United States or the United Kingdom, who are permanent members of the Security Council, commit aggression, occupation and violation of international law, which of the UN organs can take them into account?" he asked when he took the world stage at the Assembly, hours after U.S. President George Bush.

"If they have differences with a nation or state, they drag it to the Security Council and as claimants, arrogate to themselves simultaneously the roes of prosecutor, judge and executioner," he added. "Is this a just order?"

The United States and Britain are two of the five permanent members of the security council, with power of veto, as well as France, China and Russia.

Ahmadinejad also reiterated his nation's commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty amid persistent accusations that it is seeking to develop atomic weapons.

Ahmadinejad and his American counterpart have been at odds over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- heightened by the Iranian leader's refusal to adhere to an Aug. 31 UN deadline calling for his country to halt its uranium enrichment program.

The Iranian leader has said repeatedly that Tehran will not yield to international pressure to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

Ahmadinejad also had harsh words about U.S. efforts in Iraq, saying "the occupiers are incapable of establishing security in Iraq" and that hundreds of people are killed "in cold blood" ever day.

He also claimed that several terrorists taken into custody by the Iraqi government were "let loose under various pretexts by the occupiers."

"It seems that intensification of hostilities and terrorism serves as a pretext for the continued presence of foreign forces in Iraq," he said.

Bush warns Iran

Hours earlier, Bush stood at the same podium, warning the Iranian government to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

"Your rulers have chosen to deny you liberty and to use your nation's resources to front terrorism, fuel extremism and pursue nuclear weapons," said Bush. "Iran must abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions."

"We're working toward a diplomatic solution to this crisis and as we do we look toward the day when you can live in freedom and America and Iran can be good friends and close partners in the cause for peace."

Ahmadinejad had challenged the U.S. president to a debate over world issues, but Bush said he has no plans to do so.

"No, I'm not going to meet with him. I have made it clear to the Iranian regime that we will sit down with the Iranians once they verifiably suspend their enrichment program, and I meant what I said," Bush told reporters on Friday.

Open to Iranian sanctions, the U.S. position has become a tough sell for Bush with French President Jacques Chirac arguing against the move.

Chirac said Monday that that the international community should suspend the threat of sanctions on Iran if they agree to hold their enrichment program and return to the negotiating table.

But Bush kept the pressure on Iran, including the possibility of sanctions, after a morning meeting Tuesday with Chirac.

"Should they continue to stall,'' Bush said of the Iranian leaders, "we will then discuss the consequences of their stalling.''

Shireen T. Hunter, a fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, told CTV Newsnet that the Americans are sitting on the fence for now.

"They really haven't yet made up their mind whether they want to try diplomacy or if they want to push for sanctions," said Hunter.

"If the European efforts work they might try diplomacy, if not then they're going to push for sanctions."

Bush's vision for the Middle East

Bush also outlined his vision for democracy in the Middle East.

"This morning I want to speak about the more hopeful world that is within our reach, a world beyond terror where ordinary men and women are free to determine their own destiny," Bush told the assembly. "(A world) where the voices of moderation are in power, where the extremists are marginalized by the peaceful majority."

Bush also tailored his speech directly to people living in the Middle East -- attempting to debunk "propaganda" spread about the West.

"My country desires peace," he said. "The extremists in your midst spread propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in the war against Islam. This propaganda is false and its purpose is to confuse you and justify acts of terror.

He also described how moderate governments are more in sync with the UN charter and its declaration of human rights.

"The nations gathered in this chamber must make a choice as well: Will we support the moderates and reformers working for change across the Middle East or will we yield the future to the terrorists and extremists?"

On religion, Bush spoke of his respect for Islam before criticizing Muslim extremists.

"We respect Islam but we will protect our people from those who pervert Islam to sow death and destruction," he said.

On the Mideast conflict

Bush also outlined his position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I'm committed to two democratic states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security," he said. "Helping the parties reach this goal is one of the great objectives of my presidency."

Bush then announced that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would "lead a diplomatic effort to engage moderate leaders across the region" to assist Palestinians in reforming their security services.

She will also "support Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their efforts to come together to resolve their differences," he said.

Andrew Natsios, former head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, was also announced as a special envoy to Darfur. The appointment comes as a step by the U.S. to end three years of fighting that has killed an estimated 200,000 people.

Speaking directly to the people of Darfur, Bush said: "Your lives and the credibility of the United Nations is at stake."

Bush is wrapping up a string of speeches aimed at stirring up support for the war on terror as the U.S. heads into midterm elections in November.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recently criticized the U.S. invasion of Iraq and has been public about the country's troublesome future.

He said last week that most leaders in the Middle East view the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq as a "disaster."

The remark comes as a reminder of Bush's speech from four years ago where -- in the same room where he spoke Tuesday -- he made his case against Saddam Hussein. It was there that he wrongly accused Iraq of having stockpiles of deadly chemical and biological weapons.

Besides Chirac, Bush is also slated to meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa on Tuesday.