[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.