[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 37 (Monday, September 19, 2005)]
[Pages 1399-1400]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at the United Nations Security Council Summit in New York City

September 14, 2005

    Thank you, Madam President. I appreciate all the members of the 
Security Council for participating in this Summit. Our presence here 
reaffirms the seriousness of the challenges we face and our determined--
determination to confront them.
    We meet just over 2 months after the terror attacks in London, 1 
year after the terrorist massacre of schoolchildren in Beslan, and 4 
years after the terrorist attack in this city. Acts of terrorism like 
these emerge from a radical ideology that tolerates no dissent and 
justifies the murder of innocent people as the best way to achieve its 
goals.
    Today we support a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom that 
condemns the incitement of terrorist acts and calls on all states to 
take appropriate steps to end such incitement. I want to thank the Prime 
Minister and his government for their hard work on this issue. The 
United States of America strongly supports the implementation of this 
resolution.
    We have a solemn obligation. We have a solemn obligation to stop 
terrorism in its early stages. We have a solemn obligation to defend our 
citizens against terrorism, to attack terrorist networks and deprive 
them of any safe haven, to promote an ideology of freedom and tolerance 
that will refute the dark vision of the terrorists.
    We must do all we can to disrupt each stage of planning and support 
for terrorist acts. Each of us must act, consistent with past Security 
Council resolutions, to freeze terrorists' assets, to deny terrorists 
freedom of movement by using effective border controls and secure travel 
documents, to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons, including 
weapons of mass destruction. Each of us must act to share information to 
prevent a terrorist attacks before they happen. The United States will 
continue to work with and through the Security Council to help all 
nations meet these commitments.
    The United States also reaffirms its commitment to support the 
prevention of unjust armed conflict, particularly in Africa, which

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is why we have joined Algeria, Benin, and Tanzania in cosponsoring 
today's second important resolution. We support the need to improve the 
ability of the African Union and subregional organizations to deploy 
both civilian and military assets to prevent such conflicts. Over the 
next 5 years, the United States will provide training for more than 
40,000 African peacekeepers as part of a broader initiative by the G-8 
countries. We will help train African forces to preserve justice and 
order in Africa.
    Terrorism and armed conflict are not only threats to our security; 
they're the enemies of development and freedom for millions. To help 
ensure the 21st century is one of freedom, security, and prosperity--I 
want to thank the members of the Security Council for supporting today's 
resolutions.

Note: The President spoke at 11:50 a.m. in the Security Council Chamber 
at the United Nations Headquarters. In his remarks, he referred to 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines, in her capacity as 
President to the U.N. Security Council; and Prime Minister Tony Blair of 
the United Kingdom.