UN General Assembly's 61st session - Statements and Webcast
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His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
In his address, Mr Bush defended his policies on the Middle East. He said democracy was gaining ground in the region and terrorists were being marginalised. "Extremists in your midst spread propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in a war against Islam. This propaganda is false and its purpose is to confuse you and justify acts of terror."
On the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday, President George W. Bush called Abbas a "man of courage" for trying to revive Mideast peace talks despite a continued political stalemate with Hamas militants. Abbas has been weakened since January when Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel, won the Palestinian elections.
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His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused the US and UK of using the UN Security Council for their own ends. He accused the two of being prosecutor, judge and jury whenever they have a difference with another country.
In his speech, Mr Ahmadinejad defended Iran's nuclear programme, which he again said was peaceful. He contrasted this with the possession and past use of nuclear weapons by countries criticising Iran. All our nuclear activities are transparent, peaceful, and under the watchful eyes of the IAEA inspectors
He accused the U.S. of having a double standard and said it should destroy its own nuclear arsenal, which would make it "less suspicious of others."
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H.E. Mr. Hugo Chávez Frias
President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela
Hugo Chavez used his speech to lash at US influence. He had called US President George W Bush "the devil" in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. "The devil came here yesterday," he said, referring to Mr Bush's speech on Tuesday. "It still smells of sulphur today," he added.
The UN system born after World War II collapsed. It's worthless
Mr Chavez, who brandished a copy of American leftist writer Noam Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance, said Mr Bush promoted "a false democracy of the elite" and a "democracy of bombs".
"He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world," the Venezuelan leader said.
He called for drastic reform of the UN to reduce what he called US influence.
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H.E. Ms. Tzipi Livni
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel
The Israeli foreign minister on Wednesday warned that Iranian leaders pose the biggest threat to the world's values because they "speak proudly" of their wish to destroy Israel and pursue weapons to achieve that objective.
Livni also said Israel believed in a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, and that Israel had no wish to govern over Palestinians.
At its heart, is the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. "Israel believes in this vision, and from this vision we have drawn our principles for peace."
"For the Jewish people, Israel was established to be our national homeland. It was the solution for Jewish refugees, the realization of Jewish rights."
"And this is the true calling of the future state of Palestine: a national homeland for the Palestinian people - the solution to Palestinian claims, the fulfillment of Palestinian dreams, the answer for Palestinian refugees - wherever they may be."
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