Posted on 09/17/2008 1:30:59 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
A new session of the United Nations General Assembly has opened in New York, with a sharp attack on the United States by the assembly's president, former Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. VOA's Walter Wisniewski reports from our New York newscenter.
The past year's General Assembly of the United Nations has come to a close, and the new, 63rd session of the General Assembly is now formally open. World leaders will address the annual U.N. meeting next week, but the Assembly's incoming president caught diplomats' attention Tuesday with his opening remarks, a scathing attack on U.S. policies.
The General Assembly president, former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, mentioned the United States by name only a few times, but made it clear who his target was.
D'Escoto says it is "undeniable" that some members of the Security Council have "an addiction to war," and he says they are threatening international peace and security. In a scarcely veiled reference to President George W. Bush's administration, d'Escoto also said no nation has the right "to decide on its own which states are sponsors of terrorism, and which are not."
"By now, over 1.2 million people have died as a direct consequence of that aggression and occupation," d'Escoto said about the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
The 75-year-old diplomat, who is a Roman Catholic priest, told reporters later he intends to try to reform the U.N. to give the 192-member General Assembly a stronger role, compared to the Security Council, whose permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - have veto power over U.N. decisions.
D'Escoto says the world has changed since 1945, when the United Nations was founded, but the U.N. has not kept pace. He predicts "soul-searching" and frank debate at the General Assembly in the weeks and months to come.
"This will be an interesting year, and I will be making an appeal from the very depth of my heart and my experience," he said.
D'Escoto used spiritual terms in his opening speech, which he addressed to "my dear brothers and sisters" from all over the world. Asked about the significance of his dual role as General Assembly president and also a priest, he tried to deflect the comment with a joke.
"I'm also the oldest and the most decrepit [laughter], healthwise, and I know that. But will I, therefore, because I am a priest, pay particular attention to interfaith dialogue?" he asked. "That's already on the agenda. This is something that I have spoken about quite a bit with the secretary-general, and he is asking me to join him in this effort."
He was asked about his scheduled appearance at a forum next week together with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel's destruction several times. D'Escoto says he does not feel it is inappropriate for him to take part.
"Obviously, if I am here talking about brotherhood and sisterhood, I don't want anyone to be wiped off the map - not even any individual, much less a state," he said.
He also pretended not to hear when another reporter asked whether he would condemn Russia's military action against Georgia last month constituted an act of aggression. D'Escoto, who has embraced leftist policies for decades, said he did feel that any act of aggression in the Caucasus region was committed by Georgia, against South Ossetia.
Heads of state and government will be streaming into New York over the next few days, before the General Assembly's traditional round of speeches by each leader begins next Tuesday.
Turning to Cuba, d'Escoto wondered aloud why the United Nations has been powerless to overturn the U.S. trade embargo imposed on Fidel Castro's government in February 1962."If the opinion of more than 95 percent of the membership of the United Nations can be so casually ignored, of what use is this General Assembly?" he said.
The General Assembly's resolutions aren't binding, unlike the Security Council, which can set international law. But the assembly controls the U.N. budget and serves as a world forum for debate.
D'Escoto has long been a supporter of Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, who once allied himself with Fidel Castro and the Soviet Union and won re-election as Nicaragua's president in 2006. D'Escoto was foreign minister of Nicaragua when the Sandinistas ruled in the 1980s. - AP
When are we ever going to evict the UN from our shores? When?
I am surprised that the UN did not speak glowingly of bin Laden and Putin.
I am surprised that the UN did not speak glowingly of bin Laden and Putin.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Doesn’t matter. Just like a clingy ex-girlfriend, they can bark all they want and that’s pretty much the only thing they’re good for. But I also agree to just kick out the UN. Heck, I’m a boorish American and proud of it.
“”By now, over 1.2 million people have died as a direct consequence of that aggression and occupation,” d’Escoto said about the U.S.-led war in Iraq.”
Hey, why stop at 1.2 million...how about a billion!!! 10 BILLION.
Sheesh.
Cannot be too soon...
I am surprised they did not speak glowingly about Obama.
What do you mean, evict? It’s time for our government to put on the kneepads (again and again and again).
Just another raving Marxist “theologian” who (hopefully) will be taking this up directly with God in the very near future.
Get the un out of the United States.
Let the little tin pots play in outer Lesotho, Namibia, or Kazakhstan. Move them to some backwater where their ineffectual maundering won’t disturb the adults.
Everyone feels safer criticizing the U.S...
Because criticizing countries like Russia can get you killed, maimed, or your country invaded and carved up into little pieces.
Criticizing the U.S. will get you a standing ovation, a grant from the Russian and Chinese governments to build public works projects, and a cushy job with lots of “fact finding” trips to the red light districts in exotic places.
The answer is none. Consider a meeting of Mafia chieftains. All of them shot their way into power (or are the descendants of those who shot their way into power). In their meeting, the chieftains vote "democratically" on what rackets they will keep and expand.
Is the meeting of the Mafia chieftains a "democratic" organization? Of course not. Well, a majority of the nations in the UN are dictatorships in which the current leaders, or their ancestors, shot their way into power. THAT is the key reason why the UN is, and WILL REMAIN, a failed institution.
Congressman Billybob
Sometimes, nothing is funnier than the truth.
Great post!
Did the Assembly do the “O” hand gesture? lol
Tune in next week..
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