Iranian president takes on US, Israel at UN

NEW YORK – With the UN Security Council meeting this week to consider whether to impose sanctions on Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took aim at the body on Tuesday, saying the United States’ permanent inclusion on the council undermines its effectiveness and credibility.

“As long as the council is unable to act on behalf of the entire international community in a transparent, just and democratic manner, it will neither be legitimate nor effective,” the president said. Speaking to the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinejad had particularly harsh words for what he called the council’s inaction in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.”It does not matter if people are murdered in Palestine,” he said of the conflicts in which Israel has been engaged in Gaza and the West Bank.”That apparently does not violate human rights.”He also criticised the “blanketed and unwarranted support” for Israel during conflicts in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.”For 33 long days, the Lebanese lived under the barrage of fire and bombs, and close to 1,5 million of them were displaced,” Ahmadinejad said.”Meanwhile, some members of the Security Council practically chose a path that provided ample opportunity for the aggressor to achieve its objectives militarily.”The Security Council “was practically incapacitated by certain powers to even call for a cease-fire,” he said.Referring to Israel, Ahmadinejad said, “That regime has been a constant source of threat and insecurity in the Middle East region, waging war and spilling blood and impeding the progress of regional countries.”On Iraq, Ahmadinejad said the United States – whom he called “the occupiers” – is “incapable of establishing security,” and scores die daily as a result.”Where can the people of Iraq seek refuge, and from whom can the people of Iraq seek justice?” he asked.How can the Security Council act “when the occupiers themselves are permanent members of the council?” He added, “Apparently, the Security Council can only be trusted to secure the rights and security of certain big powers.”He called on the General Assembly “to rescue the Security Council from its current state” by including envoys from Africa, the Middle East and the Non-Aligned Movement.CNNSpeaking to the UN General Assembly, Ahmadinejad had particularly harsh words for what he called the council’s inaction in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories.”It does not matter if people are murdered in Palestine,” he said of the conflicts in which Israel has been engaged in Gaza and the West Bank.”That apparently does not violate human rights.”He also criticised the “blanketed and unwarranted support” for Israel during conflicts in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.”For 33 long days, the Lebanese lived under the barrage of fire and bombs, and close to 1,5 million of them were displaced,” Ahmadinejad said.”Meanwhile, some members of the Security Council practically chose a path that provided ample opportunity for the aggressor to achieve its objectives militarily.”The Security Council “was practically incapacitated by certain powers to even call for a cease-fire,” he said.Referring to Israel, Ahmadinejad said, “That regime has been a constant source of threat and insecurity in the Middle East region, waging war and spilling blood and impeding the progress of regional countries.”On Iraq, Ahmadinejad said the United States – whom he called “the occupiers” – is “incapable of establishing security,” and scores die daily as a result.”Where can the people of Iraq seek refuge, and from whom can the people of Iraq seek justice?” he asked.How can the Security Council act “when the occupiers themselves are permanent members of the council?” He added, “Apparently, the Security Council can only be trusted to secure the rights and security of certain big powers.”He called on the General Assembly “to rescue the Security Council from its current state” by including envoys from Africa, the Middle East and the Non-Aligned Movement.CNN