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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UN chief calls for global action | UN chief calls for global action |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| UN chief Ban Ki-moon has told global leaders the world faces "daunting challenges" from tackling climate change to ending conflict in Darfur. | UN chief Ban Ki-moon has told global leaders the world faces "daunting challenges" from tackling climate change to ending conflict in Darfur. |
| Opening the UN general assembly, he said the world body needed to adapt and focus not on rhetoric but on results. | Opening the UN general assembly, he said the world body needed to adapt and focus not on rhetoric but on results. |
| US President George W Bush used his 15 minutes at the podium to highlight human rights violations, naming Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran. | US President George W Bush used his 15 minutes at the podium to highlight human rights violations, naming Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran. |
| The French president said a nuclear Iran could destabilise world security. | The French president said a nuclear Iran could destabilise world security. |
| I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history - together we can make it one of the most successful Ban Ki-moon | I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history - together we can make it one of the most successful Ban Ki-moon |
| Nicolas Sarkozy said: "Iran has the right to have nuclear energy. But allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons would mean an unacceptable risk for regional and world stability." | Nicolas Sarkozy said: "Iran has the right to have nuclear energy. But allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons would mean an unacceptable risk for regional and world stability." |
| He went on to say that there would be no world peace if the international community showed "weakness in the face of the proliferation of nuclear weapons." | He went on to say that there would be no world peace if the international community showed "weakness in the face of the proliferation of nuclear weapons." |
| Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega asked how the US, as the only country "to have dropped nuclear bombs on innocent people", could challenge the rights of Iran and North Korea to "nuclear development for peaceful purposes". | |
| Iran's controversial leader is expected to address the assembly later. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in an uncompromising mood on Monday in a speech at New York's Columbia University. | Iran's controversial leader is expected to address the assembly later. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in an uncompromising mood on Monday in a speech at New York's Columbia University. |
| He argued for further research on the Holocaust and insisted that his country was entitled to its nuclear programme, which he said was entirely peaceful. | He argued for further research on the Holocaust and insisted that his country was entitled to its nuclear programme, which he said was entirely peaceful. |
| Uncompromising | Uncompromising |
| Addressing the general assembly for the first time as UN chief, Mr Ban called for "an internal climate of change" at the international body to deal with a "fractured world". | Addressing the general assembly for the first time as UN chief, Mr Ban called for "an internal climate of change" at the international body to deal with a "fractured world". |
| Mr Ban highlighted the conflict in Darfur as a priority for action"I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history. And I am sure that, together, we can make it one of the most successful. | Mr Ban highlighted the conflict in Darfur as a priority for action"I expect the year ahead to be among the most challenging in our history. And I am sure that, together, we can make it one of the most successful. |
| "We need to pay less attention to rhetoric, and more attention to results - to getting things done," he said. | "We need to pay less attention to rhetoric, and more attention to results - to getting things done," he said. |
| He stressed that peace in the Middle East was vital to regional and world stability, and insisted that "no stone would be left unturned to end the tragedy in Darfur". | He stressed that peace in the Middle East was vital to regional and world stability, and insisted that "no stone would be left unturned to end the tragedy in Darfur". |
| He also called on Burma's military leaders to show restraint in the face of continued pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. | He also called on Burma's military leaders to show restraint in the face of continued pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. |
| This line was echoed by President Bush, who said Americans were "outraged by the situation in Burma". | This line was echoed by President Bush, who said Americans were "outraged by the situation in Burma". |
| He announced "tighter" economic sanctions against the junta and urged other nations to apply pressure. | |
| Shift in tone | Shift in tone |
| The central theme of the US president's speech was the struggle against extremism. | The central theme of the US president's speech was the struggle against extremism. |
| He focused on the themes that have dominated much of his presidency: the need to spread freedom, to reward advocates of democracy and to isolate regimes whose policies run counter to what he sees as the tide of history. | He focused on the themes that have dominated much of his presidency: the need to spread freedom, to reward advocates of democracy and to isolate regimes whose policies run counter to what he sees as the tide of history. |
| Mr Bush contrasted those who were seeking the path of democracy: Lebanon, Iraq and those he dubbed moderate or mainstream Palestinian leaders, as opposed to the brutal regimes of North Korea, Syria and Iran. | Mr Bush contrasted those who were seeking the path of democracy: Lebanon, Iraq and those he dubbed moderate or mainstream Palestinian leaders, as opposed to the brutal regimes of North Korea, Syria and Iran. |
| The ritual of the general assembly allows each country's head of state or government - though some are represented by their foreign minister - to speak for 15 minutes. | The ritual of the general assembly allows each country's head of state or government - though some are represented by their foreign minister - to speak for 15 minutes. |
| The will be nearly 200 speeches over several days. Each country determines the issues that it wants to raise. | The will be nearly 200 speeches over several days. Each country determines the issues that it wants to raise. |
| There is no agenda as such, but the speeches of key countries are closely watched for any evidence of an inflection or shift in their foreign policies. | There is no agenda as such, but the speeches of key countries are closely watched for any evidence of an inflection or shift in their foreign policies. |