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More World Leaders To Address UN Summit


Kofi Annan (file photo) United Nations, 15 September 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The United Nations General Assembly today continues a three-day annual summit with speeches by a number of world leaders.

On 14 September -- the opening day of the UN's 60th anniversary summit -- terrorism was a central theme in many addresses.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan started the summit with an appeal to leaders to commit to a number of ideals, including the fight against terrorism.

"Civil society and religious leaders must raise their voices against terrorism," Annan said. "We must all make clear that terrorism committed by whomever, wherever, and for whatever purpose can never be accepted or justified."

U.S. President George W. Bush urged the U.N. Security Council to do more to stop terrorist acts. He said improving economic conditions and spreading democracy would bring the world a step closer to peace.

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad called for representation of at least one predominantly Muslim country on the UN Security Council. He also said the United Nations must not allow preemptive wars meant to ensure the security of one country at the expense of another.

Among world leaders scheduled to speak today are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

(Reuters/AFP/AP/dpa)

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