In New York, Iran's President Performed Poorly

Iran Press Service:

In his first international appearance, Iranian new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad badly deceived an attentive and curious world community Wednesday 14 September when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian analysts said.

In a short speech centred on denouncing “unilateralism” and “hegemony”, meaning the United States, which he never mentioned by name, Mr. Ahmadinejad also called for reforming the United Nations allowing equality between all members without exception.

What surprised the audience that included more than hundred Head of States was that he did not mention his much awaited “initiative” on Iran’s nuclear issue, despite a strong denounciation by France's Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who said clearly that if Iran does not comply with the NPT regulations and do not respect engagements with the EU3 on suspending its nuclear activities, it must be taken to the United Nations Security Council. READ MORE

“Acceptance of unilateralism is exactly the negation of the United Nations and its raison d'etre. Therefore, the United Nations, in its entity, should confront this vicious malady”, he said, referring to the United States without ever mentioning it by name.

“It was a deception. The mountain laid a mice”, one Iranian commentator told Iran Press Service, observing that the speech was "void of any interest".

Mr. Ahmadinejad arrived to New York on Monday, after days of uncertainty to know if Washington, which accuses him of having a hand in the occupation of American embassy in Tehran on November 1979 and taking American diplomats hostage would issue him entry visa or not, accompanied with Foreign Affairs Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Supreme Council for National Security Secretary Ali Larijani and a small delegation.

Stressing that the United Nations should pave way for dialogue, understanding and cooperation among different countries and nations with the aim of materializing world peace and tranquillity, Mr. Ahmadinejad called for a “democratic balance” in the composition of the Security Council.

Mr. Ahmadinejad is to make another appearance and another speech of 30 minutes, with analysts expecting to announce his famous "initative" to get the Iranian nuclear issue out of crisis.

“If permanent membership is accepted for some, then an acceptable mix of representatives of all continents and major civilizations must acquire permanent seats in the Council”, he said, expressing his “dismay” to see that over fifty Islamic countries encompassing more than one 1.2 billion people, Africa with its huge capabilities and potentials do not have a permanent seat in the Security Council, and that the vast continent of Asia with its ancient civilizations has only one permanent seat” (China).

“Today, the physical and psychological security of peoples and nations is ever more endangered. Unilateralism, production and use of weapons of mass destruction, intimidations, resort to the threat or use of force and imposition of destructive wars on peoples for the sake of security and prosperity of few powers have indeed redoubled the historic responsibility of the United Nations to resolutely endeavour to institutionalize justice in all aspects of global interactions in the interest of human tranquillity”, he said referring to Iraq and Afghanistan, two Iran neighbours attacked by the United States, adding: “In our view, it is impossible to achieve security, peace, stability prosperity and progress in parts of the world at the expense of instability, militarism, discrimination, poverty and depravation in others”.

The following is the full text of President Ahmadinejad's speech to the 60th regular session of the UN General Assembly, as dispatched by the official Iranian news agency IRNA.

"In the name of God, who based His creation of the heavens and earth on the principle of Justice, and who founded the sustentation and propriety of human affairs on it; the God, who commanded human beings to cooperate in the path of righteousness and betterment and avoid ill-will, transgression and enmity; the God, who guided great prophets, including Moses and Jesus and the last of the prophets, Mohammad (peace be upon them all) as well as all God-seeking and well-intentioned reformers to strive to establish justice and exalt the human status.

Mr.President, Excellencies, Ladies and GentlemenAt the outset, I wish to express my pleasure at participating in this august gathering of colleagues, distinguished Heads of States and Governments and esteemed delegates. May I also register my deepest grief over the tragic incidents in Kazemyn (Iraq) and hurricane Katrina, and also express my condolences and sympathies to the victims and their loved ones.

The United Nations must be the focal point of reliance, hope and participation for all peoples and governments, and a forum for dialogue, understanding and cooperation to achieve peace and tranquillity throughout the globe. Attainment of this objective requires:

1. Justice must reign supreme in the Organization, and in accordance with its Charter, all Member-states must have equal rights. Greater power or wealth should not accord expanded rights to any member.

2. The principles of democracy and ethics should prevail in all organs and functions of the United Nations, so that the Organization could become a manifestation of the prevalence of these two commonly shared values.

3. The United Nations should endeavour to fulfil itsresponsibility to promote and institutionalize justice at the international level.

4. The host country should not enjoy any right or privilege over the rest of the membership and the Organization and its headquarters must be easily accessible for all.

In recognition of these principles, the following will become essential:

1. The greatest challenge of our age is the gradual spiritual depravation of human beings brought about by the distancing of the prevailing order from morality and unity of monotheism. The United Nations should lead in promotion of spirituality and compassion for humanity. Only through this, uniting of nations can in fact be realized.

2. Acceptance of unilateralism is exactly the negation of the United Nations and its raison d'etre. Therefore, the United Nations, in its entity, should confront this vicious malady.

3. Today, the physical and psychological security of peoples and nations is ever more endangered. Unilateralism, production and use of weapons of mass destruction, intimidations, resort to the threat or use of force and imposition of destructive wars on peoples for the sake of security and prosperity of few powers have indeed redoubled the historic responsibility of the United Nations to resolutely endeavour to institutionalize justice in all aspects of global interactions in the interest of human tranquillity. In our view, it is impossible to achieve security, peace, stability prosperity and progress in parts of the world at the expense of instability, militarism, discrimination, poverty and depravation in others.

4. The raison d'etre of the United Nations is to promote global peace and tranquillity. Therefore, any license for pre-emptive measures-- which are essentially based on gauging intentions rather than objective facts and are in fact a modern manifestation of interventionist and war-mongering tendencies of the past-- is in blatant contradiction to the very foundations of the United Nations and the letter and spirit of its Charter.

5. The composition of the Security Council must gain a logical and democratic balance. If permanent membership is accepted for some, then an acceptable mix of representatives of all continents and major civilizations must acquire permanent seats in the Council.

I wish to underline our deep dismay that over fifty Islamic countries encompassing more than one 1.2 billion people do not have a permanent seat in the Security Council, nor does Africa with its huge capabilities and potentials, and that the vast continent of Asia with its ancient civilizations has only one permanent seat.

6. The United Nations must have the possibility to enable all governments, civil society organizations and NGOs from all over the world to freely travel to its headquarters without the selective hindrances of the host country and to engage without any fear in serious dialogue.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In our view, these concern can only be met if the prevailing discourse in international relations is transformed from one based on violence, discrimination and domination to a discourse of peace and global stability based on justice and spirituality through dialogue, compassion and respect for human beings. The exalted Prophet of Islam says: " The highest state of wisdom, after faith in God, is seeking friendship with people and extending a helping hand to all fellow human beings. " These words of wisdom underline the fact that the entire globe is but one body and the pain and ailment of each part disturbs the tranquility of all. In the words of a famous Iranian poet of thirteenth century:"All human beings are members of one frame,Since all, at first, from the same essence came.

When time afflicts a limb with pain
The other limbs can not at rest remain.