Bush urges UN to uphold human rights
US President George Bush urged the United Nations to uphold human rights and to let them “guide our way” in the world.
Mr Bush was speaking on the first day of the UN’s 62nd General Assembly in New York.
He said the universal declaration of human rights was a “landmark achievement” and that all nations could agree on some human rights concerns.
He said the UN must work to free people from “tyranny and violence”.
Mr Bush said nations must work together to defeat extremists and the international community must support Palestinian leaders.
He went on: “Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma.”
He said the US would tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers, and continue to support the efforts of humanitarian groups working there.“
In the wide-ranging speech on human rights, Mr Bush said the “long rule of a cruel dictator” was coming to an end in Cuba and that innocent civilians were suffering in Sudan.
He said the behaviour of Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe was an “assault” on its people and the US must insist on the freedom of its people.
The Cuban delegation left the General Assembly meeting during Mr Bush’s speech.
The president urged every member state to focus their efforts and to “bring us closer to the day when malaria deaths are no more”.
He also called for better education standards and said educated helps to weaken the appeal of violent ideologies.
He also urged UN member states to liberate people from “poverty and despair” through trade and investment
Mr Bush said the US reached out in partnership, not paternalism.
He said top trading nations must reduce trade barriers and there was an “historic chance to open markets around the world” by concluding successful Doha trade talks and seize the “once in a generation” opportunity.
Mr Bush told the UN his goals could not be achieved overnight, nor “without the reform of this institution”.
He said the US was committed to a “strong and vibrant UN” but added: “The UN must reform its own human rights council.”
He also called for reform of the UN security council, and said Japan should have a seat at the table.
