[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.

[[Page 1634]]

    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.