{"id":156,"date":"2006-09-19T16:43:07","date_gmt":"2006-09-19T06:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.khanfactor.com\/blog\/?p=156"},"modified":"2006-10-17T17:00:56","modified_gmt":"2006-10-17T07:00:56","slug":"address-to-the-united-nations-mahmoud-ahmadinejad-16-sep06","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.khanfactor.com\/blog\/?p=156","title":{"rendered":"Address to the United Nations – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – 16 Sep.06"},"content":{"rendered":"

Address before the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 19 September 2006<\/span>
\nby Mahmoud Ahmadinejad<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Madam President,
\nDistinguished Heads of State and Government,
\nDistinguished Heads of Delegation,
\nExcellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen<\/p>\n

I praise the merciful, all-knowing and almighty God for blessing me with another opportunity to address this Assembly<\/a> on behalf of the great nation of Iran and to bring a number of issues to the attention of the international community.<\/p>\n

I also praise the Almighty for the increasing vigilance of peoples across the globe, their courageous presence in different international settings, and the brave expression of their views and aspirations regarding global issues.<\/p>\n

Today, humanity passionately craves commitment to the truth, devotion to God, quest for justice, and respect for the dignity of human beings.\u00a0 Rejection of domination and aggression, defense of the oppressed, and longing for peace constitute the legitimate demand of the peoples of the world, particularly the new generations and the spirited youth, who aspire to a world free from decadence, aggression, and injustice, and replete with love and compassion.\u00a0 The youth have a right to seek justice and the truth; and they have a right to build their own future on the foundations of love, compassion, and tranquility.\u00a0 And I praise the Almighty for this immense blessing.<\/p>\n

Madame President,
\nExcellencies,<\/p>\n

What afflicts humanity today is certainly not compatible with human dignity; the Almighty has not created human beings so that they could transgress against others and oppress them.<\/p>\n

By causing war and conflict, some are fast expanding their domination, accumulating greater wealth, and usurping all the resources, while others endure the resulting poverty, suffering, and misery.<\/p>\n

Some seek to rule the world relying on weapons and threats, while others live in perpetual insecurity and danger.<\/p>\n

Some occupy the homeland of others, thousands of kilometers away from their borders, interfere in their affairs, and control their oil and other resources and strategic routes, while others are bombarded daily in their own homes, their children murdered in the streets and alleys of their own country and their homes reduced to rubble.<\/p>\n

Such behavior is not worthy of human beings and runs counter to the truth, to justice, and to human dignity.\u00a0 The fundamental question is that, under such conditions, where should the oppressed seek justice?\u00a0 Who or what organization defends the rights of the oppressed and suppresses acts of aggression and oppression?\u00a0 Where is the seat of global justice?<\/p>\n

A brief glance at a few examples of the most pressing global issues can further illustrate the problem.<\/p>\n

A. The Unbridled Expansion of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Weapons<\/p>\n

Some powers proudly announce their production of second and third generations of nuclear weapons.\u00a0 What do they need these weapons for?\u00a0 Is the development and stockpiling of these deadly weapons designed to promote peace and democracy?\u00a0 Or, are these weapons, in fact, instruments of coercion and threat against other peoples and governments?\u00a0 How long should the people of the world live with the nightmare of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons?\u00a0 What bounds the powers producing and possessing these weapons?\u00a0 How can they be held accountable before the international community?\u00a0 And are the inhabitants of these countries content with the waste of their wealth and resources for the production of such destructive arsenals?\u00a0 Is it not possible to rely on justice, ethics, and wisdom instead of these instruments of death?\u00a0 Aren\u2019t wisdom and justice more compatible with peace and tranquility than nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons?\u00a0 If wisdom, ethics, and justice prevail, then oppression and aggression will be uprooted, threats will wither away, and no reason will remain for conflict.\u00a0 This is a solid proposition because most global conflicts emanate from injustice, and from the powerful, not being contented with their own rights, striving to devour the rights of others.<\/p>\n

People across the globe embrace justice and are willing to sacrifice for its sake.<\/p>\n

Would it not be easier for global powers to ensure their longevity and win hearts and minds through the championing of real promotion of justice, compassion, and peace, than through continuing the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons and the threat of their use?<\/p>\n

The experience of the threat and the use of nuclear weapons is before us.\u00a0 Has it achieved anything for the perpetrators other than exacerbation of tension, hatred, and animosity among nations?<\/p>\n

B. Occupation of Countries and Exacerbation of Hostilities<\/p>\n

Occupation of countries, including Iraq, has continued for the last three years.\u00a0 Not a day goes by without hundreds of people getting killed in cold blood.\u00a0 The occupiers are incapable of establishing security in Iraq.\u00a0 Despite the establishment of the lawful Government and National Assembly of Iraq, there are covert and overt efforts to heighten insecurity, magnify and aggravate differences within Iraqi society, and instigate civil strife.<\/p>\n

There is no indication that the occupiers have the necessary political will to eliminate the sources of instability.\u00a0 Numerous terrorists were apprehended by the Government of Iraq, only to be let loose under various pretexts by the occupiers.<\/p>\n

It seems that intensification of hostilities and terrorism serves as a pretext for the continued presence of foreign forces in Iraq.<\/p>\n

Where can the people of Iraq seek refuge, and from whom should the Government of Iraq seek justice?<\/p>\n

Who can ensure Iraq’s security?\u00a0 Insecurity in Iraq affects the entire region.\u00a0 Can the Security Council play a role in restoring peace and security in Iraq, while the occupiers are themselves permanent members of the Council?\u00a0 Can the Security Council adopt a fair decision in this regard?<\/p>\n

Consider the situation in Palestine:<\/p>\n

The roots of the Palestinian problem go back to the Second World War.\u00a0 Under the pretext of protecting some of the survivors of that war, the land of Palestine was occupied through war, aggression, and the displacement of millions of its inhabitants; it was placed under the control of some of the war survivors, bringing even larger population groups from elsewhere in the world, who had not been even affected by the Second World War; and a government was established in the territory of others with a population collected from across the world at the expense of driving millions of the rightful inhabitants of the land into a diaspora and homelessness. T his is a great tragedy with hardly a precedent in history.\u00a0 Refugees continue to live in temporary refugee camps, and many have died still hoping to one day return to their land.\u00a0 Can any logic, law, or legal reasoning justify this tragedy?\u00a0 Can any member of the United Nations accept such a tragedy occurring in their own homeland?<\/p>\n

The pretexts for the creation of the regime occupying Al-Qods Al-Sharif are so weak that its proponents want to silence any voice trying to merely speak about them, as they are concerned that shedding light on the facts would undermine the raison d’\u00eatre of this regime, as it has.\u00a0 The tragedy does not end with the establishment of a regime in the territory of others.\u00a0 Regrettably, from its inception, that regime has been a constant source of threat and insecurity in the Middle East region, waging war and spilling blood and impeding the progress of regional countries, and has also been used by some powers as an instrument of division, coercion, and pressure on the people of the region.\u00a0 Reference to these historical realities may cause some disquiet among supporters of this regime.\u00a0 But these are sheer facts and not myth.\u00a0 History has unfolded before our eyes.<\/p>\n

Worst yet is the blanket and unwarranted support provided to this regime.<\/p>\n

Just watch what is happening in the Palestinian land.\u00a0 People are being bombarded in their own homes and their children murdered in their own streets and alleys.\u00a0 But no authority, not even the Security Council, can afford them any support or protection.\u00a0 Why?<\/p>\n

At the same time, a Government is formed democratically and through the free choice of the electorate in a part of the Palestinian territory.\u00a0 But instead of receiving the support of the so-called champions of democracy, its Ministers and Members of Parliament are illegally abducted and incarcerated in full view of the international community.<\/p>\n

Which council or international organization stands up to protect this brutally besieged Government?\u00a0 And why can’t the Security Council take any steps?<\/p>\n

Let me here address Lebanon:<\/p>\n

For thirty-three long days, the Lebanese lived under the barrage of fire and bombs, and close to 1.5 million of them were displaced; meanwhile some members of the Security Council practically chose a path that provided ample opportunity for the aggressor to achieve its objectives militarily.\u00a0 We witnessed that the Security Council of the United Nations was practically incapacitated by certain powers to even call for a ceasefire.\u00a0 The Security Council sat idly by for so many days, witnessing the cruel scenes of atrocities against the Lebanese while tragedies such as Qana were persistently repeated.\u00a0 Why?<\/p>\n

In all these cases, the answer is self-evident.\u00a0 When the power behind the hostilities is itself a permanent member of the Security Council, how then can this Council fulfill its responsibilities?<\/p>\n

C. Lack of Respect for the Rights of Members of the International Community<\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/p>\n

I now wish to refer to some of the grievances of the Iranian people and speak to the injustices against them.<\/p>\n

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a member of the IAEA<\/a> and is committed to the NPT.\u00a0 All our nuclear activities are transparent, peaceful, and under the watchful eyes of IAEA inspectors.\u00a0 Why then are there objections to our legally recognized rights?\u00a0 Which governments object to these rights?\u00a0 Governments that themselves benefit from nuclear energy and the fuel cycle.\u00a0 Some of them have abused nuclear technology for non-peaceful ends including the production of nuclear bombs, and some even have a bleak record of using them against humanity.<\/p>\n

Which organization or council should address these injustices?\u00a0 Is the Security Council in a position to address them?\u00a0 Can it stop violations of the inalienable rights of countries?\u00a0 Can it prevent certain powers from impeding scientific progress of other countries?<\/p>\n

The abuse of the Security Council, as an instrument of threat and coercion, is indeed a source of grave concern.<\/p>\n

Some permanent members of the Security Council, even when they are themselves parties to international disputes, conveniently threaten others with the Security Council and declare, even before any decision by the Council, the condemnation of their opponents by the Council.\u00a0 The question is: what can justify such exploitation of the Security Council, and doesn’t it erode the credibility and effectiveness of the Council?\u00a0 Can such behavior contribute to the ability of the Council to maintain security?<\/p>\n

Excellencies,<\/p>\n

A review of the preceding historical realities would lead to the conclusion that, regrettably, justice has become a victim of force and aggression.<\/p>\n