UN General Assembly begins annual meeting, focuses on hot topics

In an apparent allusion to recent comments by U.S., Israeli and Iranian officials, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon opened the annual U.N. General Assembly by warning states against threatening to attack one another and sounded a pessimistic note about Arab-Israeli peace.

"I also reject both the language of delegitimization and threats of potential military action by one state against another," Ban said. "Any such attacks would be devastating."

On another note, the U.N. Chief said that the situation in Syria is worsening, pointing out that the 18-month conflict had become "a regional calamity with global ramifications."  

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the "door may be closing, for good" on a two-state solution to this conflict, adding that the continued growth of Jewish settlements undercuts peace.         

"The two-state solution is the only sustainable option. Yet the door may be closing, for good," Ban said before the 67th session of the U.N. General Assembly. "The continued growth of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory seriously undermines efforts towards peace. We must break this dangerous impasse."         


Obama

In sharp contrast to the U.N. chief, President Barack Obama pledged U.S. support for Syrians trying to oust President Bashar Assad  "a dictator who massacres his own people."

Obama made no mention of arming the opposition and stressed the importance of ensuring "that what began with citizens demanding their rights does not end in a cycle of sectarian violence."
 
On Iran, Obama declared that the United States will "do what we must" to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "A nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained," he said. "It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations and the stability of the global economy." 

Taking the podium at the United Nations six weeks before the U.S. presidential election, Obama sought to counter criticism of his foreign record by Republican rival Mitt Romney, who has accused him of mishandling the Arab Spring uprisings, damaging ties with Israel and not being tough enough on Iran.    

Obama also challenged world leaders to stand united against anti-American violence that has swept many Muslim countries in recent weeks and to promote tolerance amid anger over a crudely made video that offended Islam. "There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents," he said.    

Seeking to step up pressure on Iran, Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that there is still time for a diplomacy but that "time is not unlimited."
   
His tough talk appeared aimed at easing Israeli concerns about U.S. resolve to curb Tehran's nuclear drive, as he reasserted before the world body that he would never let Iran develop an atomic bomb and then simply contain the problem.    

But he stopped short of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand to set a specific "red line" that Iran must not cross if it is to avoid military action, and did not go much farther in his rhetoric than previously.    


Qatari Emir

For his part, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said that Arab nations should intervene in Syria given the U.N. Security Council's failure to stop the civil war in the country.  

"The Security Council failed to reach an effective position. In view of this, I think that it is better for the Arab countries themselves to interfere out of their national, humanitarian, political and military duties and do what is necessary to stop the bloodshed in Syria," Sheik Hamad said, speaking through an interpreter.

The 67th session of the U.N. General Assembly was held amid security measures said to be "exceptional."

Hollande


REUTERS