    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 38 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
    [Pages 1633-1637]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City

    September 19, 2006

        Mr. Secretary-General, Madam President, distinguished delegates, and
    ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank you for the privilege of speaking
    to this General Assembly.
        Last week, America and the world marked the fifth anniversary of the
    attacks that filled another September morning with death and suffering.
    On that terrible day, extremists killed nearly 3,000 innocent people,
    including citizens of dozens of nations represented right here in this
    chamber. Since then, the enemies of humanity have continued their
    campaign of murder. Al Qaida and those inspired by its extremist
    ideology have attacked more than two dozen nations. And recently a
    different group of extremists deliberately provoked a terrible conflict
    in Lebanon. At the start of the 21st century, it is clear that the world
    is engaged in a great ideological struggle between extremists who use
    terror as a weapon to create fear and moderate people who work for
    peace.
        Five years ago, I stood at this podium and called on the community
    of nations to defend civilization and build a more hopeful future. This
    is still the great challenge of our time; it is the calling of our
    generation. This morning I want to speak about the more hopeful world
    that is within our reach, a world beyond terror, where ordinary men and
    women are free to determine their own destiny, where the voices of
    moderation are empowered, and where the extremists are marginalized by
    the peaceful majority. This world can be ours if we seek it and if we
    work together.

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        The principles of this world beyond terror can be found in the very
    first sentence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This
    document declares that the ``equal and inalienable rights of all members
    of the human family is the foundation of freedom and justice and peace
    in the world.'' One of the authors of this document was a Lebanese
    diplomat named Charles Malik, who would go on to become President of
    this Assembly. Mr. Malik insisted that these principles apply equally to
    all people of all regions, of all religions, including the men and women
    of the Arab world that was his home.
        In the nearly six decades since that document was approved, we have
    seen the forces of freedom and moderation transform entire continents.
    Sixty years after a terrible war, Europe is now whole, free, and at
    peace--and Asia has seen freedom progress and hundreds of millions of
    people lifted out of desperate poverty. The words of the Universal
    Declaration are as true today as they were when they were written. As
    liberty flourishes, nations grow in tolerance and hope and peace. And
    we're seeing that bright future begin to take root in the broader Middle
    East.
        Some of the changes in the Middle East have been dramatic, and we
    see the results in this chamber. Five years ago, Afghanistan was ruled
    by the brutal Taliban regime, and its seat in this body was contested.
    Now this seat is held by the freely elected Government of Afghanistan,
    which is represented today by President Karzai. Five years ago, Iraq's
    seat in this body was held by a dictator who killed his citizens,
    invaded his neighbors, and showed his contempt for the world by defying
    more than a dozen U.N. Security Council resolutions. Now Iraq's seat is
    held by a democratic Government that embodies the aspirations of the
    Iraq people, represented today by President Talabani. With these
    changes, more than 50 million people have been given a voice in this
    chamber for the first time in decades.
        Some of the changes in the Middle East are happening gradually, but
    they are real. Algeria has held its first competitive Presidential
    election, and the military remained neutral. The United Arab Emirates
    recently announced that half of its seats in the Federal National
    Council will be chosen by elections. Kuwait held elections in which
    women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time.
    Citizens have voted in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, in
    parliamentary elections in Jordan and Bahrain, and in multiparty
    Presidential elections in Yemen and Egypt. These are important steps,
    and the governments should continue to move forward with other reforms
    that show they trust their people. Every nation that travels the road to
    freedom moves at a different pace, and the democracies they build will
    reflect their own culture and traditions. But the destination is the
    same, a free society where people live at peace with each other and at
    peace with the world.
        Some have argued that the democratic changes we're seeing in the
    Middle East are destabilizing the region. This argument rests on a false
    assumption that the Middle East was stable to begin with. The reality is
    that the stability we thought we saw in the Middle East was a mirage.
    For decades, millions of men and women in the region have been trapped
    in oppression and hopelessness. And these conditions left a generation
    disillusioned and made this region a breeding ground for extremism.
        Imagine what it's like to be a young person living in a country that
    is not moving toward reform. You're 21 years old, and while your peers
    in other parts of the world are casting their ballots for the first
    time, you are powerless to change the course of your government. While
    your peers in other parts of the world have received educations that
    prepare them for the opportunities of a global economy, you have been
    fed propaganda and conspiracy theories that blame others for your
    country's shortcomings. And everywhere you turn, you hear extremists who
    tell you that you can escape your misery and regain your dignity through
    violence and terror and martyrdom. For many across the broader Middle
    East, this is the dismal choice presented every day.
        Every civilized nation, including those in the Muslim world, must
    support those in the region who are offering a more hopeful alternative.
    We know that when people have a voice in their future, they are less
    likely to blow themselves up in suicide attacks. We

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    know that when leaders are accountable to their people, they are more
    likely to seek national greatness in the achievements of their citizens,
    rather than in terror and conquest. So we must stand with democratic
    leaders and moderate reformers across the broader Middle East. We must
    give them--voice to the hopes of decent men and women who want for their
    children the same things we want for ours. We must seek stability
    through a free and just Middle East where the extremists are
    marginalized by millions of citizens in control of their own destinies.
        Today I'd like to speak directly to the people across the broader
    Middle East: My country desires peace. Extremists in your midst spread
    propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in a war against Islam.
    This propaganda is false, and its purpose is to confuse you and justify
    acts of terror. We respect Islam, but we will protect our people from
    those who pervert Islam to sow death and destruction. Our goal is to
    help you build a more tolerant and hopeful society that honors people of
    all faiths and promotes the peace.
        To the people of Iraq: Nearly 12 million of you braved the car
    bombers and assassins last December to vote in free elections. The world
    saw you hold up purple ink-stained fingers, and your courage filled us
    with admiration. You've stood firm in the face of horrendous acts of
    terror and sectarian violence, and we will not abandon you in your
    struggle to build a free nation. America and our coalition partners will
    continue to stand with the democratic Government you elected. We will
    continue to help you secure the international assistance and investment
    you need to create jobs and opportunity, working with the United Nations
    and through the International Compact with Iraq endorsed here in New
    York yesterday. We will continue to train those of you who stepped
    forward to fight the enemies of freedom. We will not yield the future of
    your country to terrorists and extremists. In return, your leaders must
    rise to the challenges your country is facing and make difficult choices
    to bring security and prosperity. Working together, we will help your
    democracy succeed, so it can become a beacon of hope for millions in the
    Muslim world.
        To the people of Afghanistan: Together we overthrew the Taliban
    regime that brought misery into your lives and harbored terrorists who
    brought death to the citizens of many nations. Since then, we have
    watched you choose your leaders in free elections and build a democratic
    government. You can be proud of these achievements. We respect your
    courage and your determination to live in peace and freedom, and we will
    continue to stand with you to defend your democratic gains. Today,
    forces from more than 40 countries, including members of the NATO
    Alliance, are bravely serving side by side with you against the
    extremists who want to bring down the free Government you've
    established. We'll help you defeat these enemies and build a free
    Afghanistan that will never again oppress you or be a safe haven for
    terrorists.
        To the people of Lebanon: Last year, you inspired the world when you
    came out into the streets to demand your independence from Syrian
    dominance. You drove Syrian forces from your country, and you
    reestablished democracy. Since then, you have been tested by the
    fighting that began with Hizballah's unprovoked attacks on Israel. Many
    of you have seen your homes and your communities caught in crossfire. We
    see your suffering, and the world is helping you to rebuild your country
    and helping you deal with the armed extremists who are undermining your
    democracy by acting as a state within a state. The United Nations has
    passed a good resolution that has authorized an international force, led
    by France and Italy, to help you restore Lebanese sovereignty over
    Lebanese soil. For many years, Lebanon was a model of democracy and
    pluralism and openness in the region--and it will be again.
        To the people of Iran: The United States respects you; we respect
    your country. We admire your rich history, your vibrant culture, and
    your many contributions to civilization. You deserve an opportunity to
    determine your own future, an economy that rewards your intelligence and
    your talents, and a society that allows you to fulfill your tremendous
    potential. The greatest obstacle to this future is that your rulers have
    chosen to deny you liberty and to use your nation's

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    resources to fund terrorism and fuel extremism and pursue nuclear
    weapons. The United Nations has passed a clear resolution requiring that
    the regime in Tehran meet its international obligations. Iran must
    abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions. Despite what the regime tells
    you, we have no objection to Iran's pursuit of a truly peaceful nuclear
    power program. We're working toward a diplomatic solution to this
    crisis. And as we do, we look to the day when you can live in freedom
    and America and Iran can be good friends and close partners in the cause
    of peace.
        To the people of Syria: Your land is home to a great people with a
    proud tradition of learning and commerce. Today, your rulers have
    allowed your country to become a crossroad for terrorism. In your midst,
    Hamas and Hizballah are working to destabilize the region, and your
    Government is turning your country into a tool of Iran. This is
    increasing your country's isolation from the world. Your Government must
    choose a better way forward by ending its support for terror and living
    in peace with your neighbors and opening the way to a better life for
    you and your families.
        To the people of Darfur: You have suffered unspeakable violence, and
    my nation has called these atrocities what they are--genocide. For the
    last 2 years, America joined with the international community to provide
    emergency food aid and support for an African Union peacekeeping force.
    Yet your suffering continues. The world must step forward to provide
    additional humanitarian aid, and we must strengthen the African Union
    force that has done good work but is not strong enough to protect you.
    The Security Council has approved a resolution that would transform the
    African Union force into a blue-helmeted force that is larger and more
    robust. To increase its strength and effectiveness, NATO nations should
    provide logistics and other support. The regime in Khartoum is stopping
    the deployment of this force. If the Sudanese Government does not
    approve this peacekeeping force quickly, the United Nations must act.
    Your lives and the credibility of the United Nations is at stake. So
    today I'm announcing that I'm naming a Presidential special envoy,
    former USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios, to lead America's efforts to
    resolve the outstanding disputes and help bring peace to your land.
        The world must also stand up for peace in the Holy Land. I'm
    committed to two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by
    side in peace and security. I'm committed to a Palestinian state that
    has territorial integrity and will live peacefully with the Jewish state
    of Israel. This is the vision set forth in the roadmap, and helping the
    parties reach this goal is one of the great objectives of my Presidency.
    The Palestinian people have suffered from decades of corruption and
    violence and the daily humiliation of occupation. Israeli citizens have
    endured brutal acts of terrorism and constant fear of attack since the
    birth of their nation. Many brave men and women have made the commitment
    to peace. Yet extremists in the region are stirring up hatred and trying
    to prevent these moderate voices from prevailing.
        This struggle is unfolding in the Palestinian territories. Earlier
    this year, the Palestinian people voted in a free election. The leaders
    of Hamas campaigned on a platform of ending corruption and improving the
    lives of the Palestinian people, and they prevailed. The world is
    waiting to see whether the Hamas Government will follow through on its
    promises or pursue an extremist agenda. The world has sent a clear
    message to the leaders of Hamas: Serve the interests of the Palestinian
    people; abandon terror; recognize Israel's right to exist; honor
    agreements; and work for peace.
        President Abbas is committed to peace and to his people's
    aspirations for a state of their own. Prime Minister Olmert is committed
    to peace and has said he intends to meet with President Abbas to make
    real progress on the outstanding issues between them. I believe peace
    can be achieved and that a democratic Palestinian state is possible. I
    hear from leaders in the region who want to help. I've directed
    Secretary of State Rice to lead a diplomatic effort to engage moderate
    leaders across the region, to help the Palestinians reform their
    security services and support Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their
    efforts to come together to resolve their differences. Prime Minister
    Blair has

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    indicated that his country will work with partners in Europe to help
    strengthen the governing institutions of the Palestinian administration.
    We welcome his initiative. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Jordan and
    Egypt have made clear they're willing to contribute the diplomatic and
    financial assistance necessary to help these efforts succeed. I'm
    optimistic that by supporting the forces of democracy and moderation, we
    can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future and
    achieve the peace in a Holy Land we all want.

        Freedom, by its nature, cannot be imposed--it must be chosen. From
    Beirut to Baghdad, people are making the choice for freedom. And the
    nations gathered in this chamber must make a choice as well: Will we
    support the moderates and reformers who are working for change across
    the Middle East, or will we yield the future to the terrorists and
    extremists? America has made its choice: We will stand with the
    moderates and reformers.

        Recently a courageous group of Arab and Muslim intellectuals wrote
    me a letter. In it, they said this: ``The shore of reform is the only
    one on which any lights appear, even though the journey demands courage
    and patience and perseverance.'' The United Nations was created to make
    that journey possible. Together we must support the dreams of good and
    decent people who are working to transform a troubled region, and by
    doing so, we will advance the high ideals on which this institution was
    founded.

        Thank you for your time. God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:15 p.m. in the General Assembly Hall. In
    his remarks, he referred to Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United
    Nations; Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President, 61st Session of the
    U.N. General Assembly; President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; former
    President Saddam Hussein and President Jalal Talabani of Iraq; President
    Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; Prime Minister
    Ehud Olmert of Israel; and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United
    Kingdom. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.