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UN general assembly: International community has failed Syrians, says Rouhani | UN general assembly: International community has failed Syrians, says Rouhani |
(30 days later) | |
7.35pm BST | 7.35pm BST |
19:35 | 19:35 |
We’re closing the live blog now. The president of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, has just addressed the assembly. He will be followed by the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Kazhakstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev, Mexico’s Enrique Peña Nieto, Portugal’s Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Dessalegn. The assembly will then adjourn before the afternoon session. A full list of speakers is available here. | We’re closing the live blog now. The president of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, has just addressed the assembly. He will be followed by the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander, Kazhakstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev, Mexico’s Enrique Peña Nieto, Portugal’s Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Ethiopia’s Hailemariam Dessalegn. The assembly will then adjourn before the afternoon session. A full list of speakers is available here. |
We’ve included a brief summary of what this morning’s key speakers - mainly Obama, Putin, Rouhani and Hollande - said below. | We’ve included a brief summary of what this morning’s key speakers - mainly Obama, Putin, Rouhani and Hollande - said below. |
Thanks for reading and for your comments. | Thanks for reading and for your comments. |
Updated | Updated |
at 7.39pm BST | at 7.39pm BST |
7.13pm BST | 7.13pm BST |
19:13 | 19:13 |
François Hollande's speech - in brief | François Hollande's speech - in brief |
Kim Willsher | Kim Willsher |
French president François Holland began his address talking about the climate, and went on to address conflict and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. | French president François Holland began his address talking about the climate, and went on to address conflict and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. |
This translation of Hollande’s speech was performed simultaneously and contains the key points of his address. You can watch the speech in full here. | This translation of Hollande’s speech was performed simultaneously and contains the key points of his address. You can watch the speech in full here. |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.56am BST | at 11.56am BST |
7.11pm BST | 7.11pm BST |
19:11 | 19:11 |
Hollande said there has to be a “political transition” in Syria. He said the international community is closing its eyes while refugees have begun a long march. He added that 80% of refugees are in the south: “Often the poorest who are welcoming the poorest.” | Hollande said there has to be a “political transition” in Syria. He said the international community is closing its eyes while refugees have begun a long march. He added that 80% of refugees are in the south: “Often the poorest who are welcoming the poorest.” |
He said Europe must do its duty “but the world must help these refugees”. We have to help, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and African countries who are transit for refugees “to avoid other dramas”.Hollande announced an additional 100 million euros in aid to neighbouring countries around Syria. “The UN must be able to sort out the dramas, it’s our impotence that will condemn us,” he said. | He said Europe must do its duty “but the world must help these refugees”. We have to help, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and African countries who are transit for refugees “to avoid other dramas”.Hollande announced an additional 100 million euros in aid to neighbouring countries around Syria. “The UN must be able to sort out the dramas, it’s our impotence that will condemn us,” he said. |
7.00pm BST | 7.00pm BST |
19:00 | 19:00 |
Hollande says in cases of mass atrocity the rights of the veto should not be used or the UN will remain paralysed. “France will never use its veto when we are dealing with cases of mass atrocities”. | Hollande says in cases of mass atrocity the rights of the veto should not be used or the UN will remain paralysed. “France will never use its veto when we are dealing with cases of mass atrocities”. |
He says the right of veto is not tantamount to the right to block. We have to and can act, we have been for 70 years. We must assuage tragedies and help our planet. | He says the right of veto is not tantamount to the right to block. We have to and can act, we have been for 70 years. We must assuage tragedies and help our planet. |
6.55pm BST | 6.55pm BST |
18:55 | 18:55 |
Hollande says Syria calls upon us to mobilise and interfere. Everyone thinks this is a tragedy, and the solution must be found. Let’s look for it together. | Hollande says Syria calls upon us to mobilise and interfere. Everyone thinks this is a tragedy, and the solution must be found. Let’s look for it together. |
He says the Syrian tragedy started with the revolution which wanted to oust Assad. At that time there were no terrorists and fundamental groups. There was a dictatorship that was massacring people. | He says the Syrian tragedy started with the revolution which wanted to oust Assad. At that time there were no terrorists and fundamental groups. There was a dictatorship that was massacring people. |
The millions of refugees are not only fleeing a war, they’re fleeing Assad’s regime, which is dropping bombs on innocent civilians, Hollande says. It’s not because we have a terrorist group which itself massacres, rapes and destroys, that would mean there is a pardoned amnesty issued for the regime that created the situation. All of these people are victims of the tragedy that was generated by the alliance between terrorism and dictatorship. | The millions of refugees are not only fleeing a war, they’re fleeing Assad’s regime, which is dropping bombs on innocent civilians, Hollande says. It’s not because we have a terrorist group which itself massacres, rapes and destroys, that would mean there is a pardoned amnesty issued for the regime that created the situation. All of these people are victims of the tragedy that was generated by the alliance between terrorism and dictatorship. |
Hollande says France intends to shoulder its responsibilities, and this includes armed action. “We work with everyone including neighbouring states, the most affected: the Gulf states, Iran, but also European countries.” | Hollande says France intends to shoulder its responsibilities, and this includes armed action. “We work with everyone including neighbouring states, the most affected: the Gulf states, Iran, but also European countries.” |
He says a coalition is necessary to bring an end to what is happening in Syria. It has to have a clear basis, and this was provided in Geneva more than three years ago. You can’t put together victims and people killing them. “Assad is the origin of the problem, he can’t therefore be the solution.” | He says a coalition is necessary to bring an end to what is happening in Syria. It has to have a clear basis, and this was provided in Geneva more than three years ago. You can’t put together victims and people killing them. “Assad is the origin of the problem, he can’t therefore be the solution.” |
6.47pm BST | 6.47pm BST |
18:47 | 18:47 |
Hollande is still talking about climate change. He says the upcoming conference in Paris will ask one single question: is humankind capable preserving life on this planet? We need developed country to take on financial commitments, he adds. | Hollande is still talking about climate change. He says the upcoming conference in Paris will ask one single question: is humankind capable preserving life on this planet? We need developed country to take on financial commitments, he adds. |
6.43pm BST | 6.43pm BST |
18:43 | 18:43 |
6.42pm BST | 6.42pm BST |
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Francoise Hollande is now speaking. He says terrorism hits civilian populations and no country is safe from this scurge. There are also conflicts that have been unresolved for years. Referring to the Middle East, he says we all know they could disintegrate at any moment. | Francoise Hollande is now speaking. He says terrorism hits civilian populations and no country is safe from this scurge. There are also conflicts that have been unresolved for years. Referring to the Middle East, he says we all know they could disintegrate at any moment. |
During this time there are disasters: tsunamis, earthquakes, islands on verge of disappearing – this is climate change. Faced with these challenges, everyone has to shoulder their responsibility, Hollande says. France has never been idle and decided to hold the conference on climate change. “We are aware we had a terrible fiasco in Copenhagen and this time around need to come up with a good decision.” | During this time there are disasters: tsunamis, earthquakes, islands on verge of disappearing – this is climate change. Faced with these challenges, everyone has to shoulder their responsibility, Hollande says. France has never been idle and decided to hold the conference on climate change. “We are aware we had a terrible fiasco in Copenhagen and this time around need to come up with a good decision.” |
6.37pm BST | 6.37pm BST |
18:37 | 18:37 |
Hassan Rouhani's speech - Saeed Kamali Dehghan's analysis | Hassan Rouhani's speech - Saeed Kamali Dehghan's analysis |
Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Saeed Kamali Dehghan |
Under pressure from home critics to cut short his UN visit and return to Tehran in the face of growing Iranian deaths in Mina stampede, Hassan Rouhani started his speech at the UN general assembly with remembering the Iranian victims, criticising Saudi Arabia and urging an investigation into the tragedy. | Under pressure from home critics to cut short his UN visit and return to Tehran in the face of growing Iranian deaths in Mina stampede, Hassan Rouhani started his speech at the UN general assembly with remembering the Iranian victims, criticising Saudi Arabia and urging an investigation into the tragedy. |
It emerged on Monday that the latest Iranian death toll stands at 228 while as many as 248 people are still missing, according to local media. This is significantly higher than previously thought. “Many who had come together in the spiritual gathering hajj unfortunately fell victims to incompetence and mismanagement of those in charge,” he said, adding that Saudi “unaccountability” has prevented identifying the missing people and the return of dead bodied to Iran. | It emerged on Monday that the latest Iranian death toll stands at 228 while as many as 248 people are still missing, according to local media. This is significantly higher than previously thought. “Many who had come together in the spiritual gathering hajj unfortunately fell victims to incompetence and mismanagement of those in charge,” he said, adding that Saudi “unaccountability” has prevented identifying the missing people and the return of dead bodied to Iran. |
“Public opinion demands that Saudi Arabian officials promptly fulfill their international obligations and grant immediate consular access,” he said, referring to the difficulties Iranian officials have faced in order to obtain Saudi visa to travel to Mecca to deal with the crisis. “It is necessary to prepare for an independent and precise investigation into causes of this disaster and ways to prevent its repetition in the future.” | “Public opinion demands that Saudi Arabian officials promptly fulfill their international obligations and grant immediate consular access,” he said, referring to the difficulties Iranian officials have faced in order to obtain Saudi visa to travel to Mecca to deal with the crisis. “It is necessary to prepare for an independent and precise investigation into causes of this disaster and ways to prevent its repetition in the future.” |
Rouhani a large part of his speech to mention the landmark Iranian nuclear deal struck in Vienna in July and lay out its consequences for Iran and the west. His strongest line was “we won’t forget the past but we do not want to live in the past.” He was referring to the international sanctions that in his opinion and in the view of many Iranians unjustly punished his countrymen for some years. “Today a new chapter has started in Iran’s relations with the world”, Rouhani said, emphasising that the Iranian people chose the path of “hope and moderation” two years ago by electing him to office in Iran, a country he described as a “religious democracy”. | Rouhani a large part of his speech to mention the landmark Iranian nuclear deal struck in Vienna in July and lay out its consequences for Iran and the west. His strongest line was “we won’t forget the past but we do not want to live in the past.” He was referring to the international sanctions that in his opinion and in the view of many Iranians unjustly punished his countrymen for some years. “Today a new chapter has started in Iran’s relations with the world”, Rouhani said, emphasising that the Iranian people chose the path of “hope and moderation” two years ago by electing him to office in Iran, a country he described as a “religious democracy”. |
The Iranian president lashed out at Israel a couple of times, saying “the zionist regime” was the only impediment towards securing the nuclear agreement. He later criticised the US for extending an unwavering support for Tel Aviv and ignoring the plight of what he described as “oppressed Palestinians”. He said the US was pursuing “baseless accusations and pursuing other dangerous policies” in defence of its regional allies cultivating extremism, presumably referring to Saudi Arabia and Israel. | The Iranian president lashed out at Israel a couple of times, saying “the zionist regime” was the only impediment towards securing the nuclear agreement. He later criticised the US for extending an unwavering support for Tel Aviv and ignoring the plight of what he described as “oppressed Palestinians”. He said the US was pursuing “baseless accusations and pursuing other dangerous policies” in defence of its regional allies cultivating extremism, presumably referring to Saudi Arabia and Israel. |
Rouhani urged the world to form a “united front” against extremism and violence and said the biggest threat facing the world is for the terrorist organisations to become a terrorist state, referring to the Islamic state (Isis). | Rouhani urged the world to form a “united front” against extremism and violence and said the biggest threat facing the world is for the terrorist organisations to become a terrorist state, referring to the Islamic state (Isis). |
“We are prepared to assist in eradication of terrorism. We are prepared to help bring democracy to Syria, Yemen,” he said. Iran wants peace in the region based on win-win situation, he said. | “We are prepared to assist in eradication of terrorism. We are prepared to help bring democracy to Syria, Yemen,” he said. Iran wants peace in the region based on win-win situation, he said. |
Rouhani said Iran wants to become a business hub in the region. Iranian business leaders says that the Rouhani administration want them to act swiftly. | Rouhani said Iran wants to become a business hub in the region. Iranian business leaders says that the Rouhani administration want them to act swiftly. |
“Our authorities insist that the work of our diplomacy and economic apparatus is almost finished so they want our economic sector and private companies to steer the wheel now and benefit from the situation,” Ali Sanginian, CEO at Amin Investment bank, an asset management group, told the Guardian. “We were hurt a lot under sanctions and we were almost standing on the edge but people in Iran want to feel the benefits of sanctions relief in their daily life as soon as possible.” | “Our authorities insist that the work of our diplomacy and economic apparatus is almost finished so they want our economic sector and private companies to steer the wheel now and benefit from the situation,” Ali Sanginian, CEO at Amin Investment bank, an asset management group, told the Guardian. “We were hurt a lot under sanctions and we were almost standing on the edge but people in Iran want to feel the benefits of sanctions relief in their daily life as soon as possible.” |
6.31pm BST | 6.31pm BST |
18:31 | 18:31 |
Al-Thani says the nuclear agreement with Iran will contribute to security and stability in region and he looks forward to the disarmament of the entire region. Iran is an important neighbouring country and corporation with it is essential. | Al-Thani says the nuclear agreement with Iran will contribute to security and stability in region and he looks forward to the disarmament of the entire region. Iran is an important neighbouring country and corporation with it is essential. |
6.30pm BST | 6.30pm BST |
18:30 | 18:30 |
Al-Thani says Syria has turned into a war zone and the regime has attempted to scare the international community of the alternative. He says it was right for the international community to provide a fair alternative but asks if there is a tyranny in the world that could acknowledge an alternative? When people suffer from war and genocide, the most detrimental danger is to ignore danger. The failure of the international community to take measures leads to a loss of confidence, he says. | Al-Thani says Syria has turned into a war zone and the regime has attempted to scare the international community of the alternative. He says it was right for the international community to provide a fair alternative but asks if there is a tyranny in the world that could acknowledge an alternative? When people suffer from war and genocide, the most detrimental danger is to ignore danger. The failure of the international community to take measures leads to a loss of confidence, he says. |
He says we must impose a political solution in Syria that would end the reign of tyranny, repatriate the displaced to their home and allow for the reconstruction of Syria. This is possible if there is a will among certain states. | He says we must impose a political solution in Syria that would end the reign of tyranny, repatriate the displaced to their home and allow for the reconstruction of Syria. This is possible if there is a will among certain states. |
6.24pm BST | 6.24pm BST |
18:24 | 18:24 |
Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani is now addressing the assembly. He says he had hoped progress would have been made concerning bloody conflicts in the world by now. | Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani is now addressing the assembly. He says he had hoped progress would have been made concerning bloody conflicts in the world by now. |
6.15pm BST | 6.15pm BST |
18:15 | 18:15 |
Rouhani says Iraq, Syria and Yemen are examples of crises being stoked through terror. Their problems have persisted because the international community has failed them. The wave of destruction has gone well beyond the Arab world and has reached the gates of Europe and US. The cost, Rouhani says, has been cultural and human destruction. | Rouhani says Iraq, Syria and Yemen are examples of crises being stoked through terror. Their problems have persisted because the international community has failed them. The wave of destruction has gone well beyond the Arab world and has reached the gates of Europe and US. The cost, Rouhani says, has been cultural and human destruction. |
“If we didn’t have the US military invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq” and its support for Zionist Israel the terrorists would not have an excuse for the justification of their crimes, Rouhani adds. | “If we didn’t have the US military invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq” and its support for Zionist Israel the terrorists would not have an excuse for the justification of their crimes, Rouhani adds. |
And Rouhani has now finished speaking. | And Rouhani has now finished speaking. |