    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 39 (Monday, September 27, 2004)]
    [Pages 2084-2085]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks at a Reception for Heads of State in New York City

    September 21, 2004

        Thank you all. Please be seated, for what is going to be a short
    speech. We're honored you're here in New York City. Laura and I are
    thrilled to have hosted this reception. We hope you've enjoyed it as
    much as we have. And it's a great opportunity for Laura and me to say
    hello to many of our friends who are Prime Ministers and Presidents and
    Foreign Ministers and perm representatives to the various countries
    represented here.
        I do want to pay tribute to our great Secretary of State, Colin
    Powell, who's done such a wonderful job for our country. As well I want
    to say thanks to Jack and Sally Danforth. Jack is the new Ambassador to
    the United Nations for our country. Thank you all for your service.
        I think my friend the Governor of New York is still here, George
    Pataki, and First Lady Libby Pataki. One thing about New York City is
    they know how to host big events. The U.N. General Assembly is a big
    event. There's a lot of us with nice automobiles driving around the
    city, and they make it quite convenient. One reason why is they've got a
    great mayor in Michael Bloomberg who is not--was here and left, but
    he's--but as well, I do want you to recognize the commissioner of police
    for this great city, Ray Kelly, and Veronica, is with us today.
        I saw Kofi Annan earlier. I don't know if Kofi is still here or not,
    but I do respect him. He's a decent, kind man, and I'm proud of the job
    he does at the United Nations. And Laura and I are very fond of his
    wife, Nane, as well.
        And most of all, I appreciate you serving your respective countries
    and working together to make the world a better place. It's--these have
    been tough times in the world. But I think if we stick true to the
    values that unite most of us, which are human rights, human dignity, the
    deep desire for people to live in freedom, the world will be a better
    place. And that's really how I view this time here at the United
    Nations, a

    [[Page 2085]]

    chance to find common purpose and common ground, all aiming at achieving
    the peace we all desire.
        I am floored by the progress that's being made in parts of the world
    that used to be dark, places where people had no hope, and today, they
    see light.
        Today in my speech at the U.N., I pointed out the fact that 10
    million citizens in Afghanistan have registered to vote in the upcoming
    Presidential election, 41 percent of whom are women. This is a society
    that 3 years ago was a place where young girls weren't allowed to go to
    school, and their mothers were whipped in the public squares because
    they didn't toe the dark line of a group of people whose vision was
    limited by hatred. And today, 3 years later, 10 million citizens have
    said, ``I love freedom. I want to be free.'' And they're going to the
    polls.
        And the world is going to be more peaceful for it. We believe that
    liberty and freedom go hand in hand. We believe every human heart
    desires to be free, and I believe every free nation has a responsibility
    to free every human heart, as best we can.
        So that's how I view the 59th session of the U.N. General Assembly.
    It's an honor to be here. It's great to see mis amigos, my friends. I
    want to thank you all for your hard work, and may God bless you and your
    countries. Thank you for coming. Good night, everybody. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:06 p.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria. In his
    remarks, he referred to Sally Danforth, wife of former Senator John C.
    Danforth, U.S. Representative to the United Nations; Gov. George E.
    Pataki of New York and his wife, Elizabeth ``Libby''; Mayor Michael R.
    Bloomberg of New York City; Veronica Kelly, wife of New York City Police
    Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly; and Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the
    United Nations and his wife, Nane.