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Obama delivers maiden UN address Obama delivers maiden UN address
(21 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is delivering his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.US President Barack Obama is delivering his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He is expected to say the US is acting to tackle global challenges, but will stress that other nations also need to do their part. Mr Obama named global challenges including nuclear proliferation, wars, climate change and the economic crisis.
Mr Obama will also stress the change in attitude of the US to the UN compared with that of the Bush administration. He said he was "well aware of expectations" in his presidency - but he said tackling global challenges could not be solely a US endeavour.
The assembly will also hear from Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi for the first time, and the Iranian president.The assembly will also hear from Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi for the first time, and the Iranian president.
Relatives of victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing protested outside the UN headquarters as Col Gaddafi was due to arrive. The Libyan convicted of the bombing was released from a Scottish prison last month.Relatives of victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing protested outside the UN headquarters as Col Gaddafi was due to arrive. The Libyan convicted of the bombing was released from a Scottish prison last month.
MARDELL'S AMERICA It sounds as though President Obama is going to climb into the bully pulpit and call on other nations to match the level of US commitment Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in fullMARDELL'S AMERICA It sounds as though President Obama is going to climb into the bully pulpit and call on other nations to match the level of US commitment Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has previously said he does not believe the Holocaust happened, is due to speak later in the day.Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has previously said he does not believe the Holocaust happened, is due to speak later in the day.
Israel has called for a boycott of his appearance and the Germans have said they will walk out if he repeats the claim.Israel has called for a boycott of his appearance and the Germans have said they will walk out if he repeats the claim.
Mr Obama is addressing leaders from more than 120 countries, a day after he spoke at the UN's climate change summit. 'New coalitions'
The president acknowledged that the US had been slow to act, but promised a "new era" of promoting clean energy and reducing carbon pollution. In his maiden speech to leaders from more than 120 countries, Mr Obama outlined "four pillars" which encapsulated the challenges facing the world:
His maiden general assembly speech will address nuclear non-proliferation, "peace and security, climate change, and global growth and development, and underscore America's fundamental commitment to universal values - and challenge others in the United Nations to do the same", an unnamed senior US official said.
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  • Nuclear proliferation
  • Peace and security
  • Preservation of the planet
  • The global economy
Mr Obama acknowledged the hopes invested in his presidency.
But he said "no world order which elevates one nation above others" could succeed.
"We must build new coalitions that bridge old divides... All nations have rights and responsibilities - that's the bargain that makes this work," Mr Obama said.
The president devoted a significant proportion of his speech to the challenges of finding a peaceful settlement in the Middle East - and called for the relaunch of "negotiations without preconditions".
But he said he did not underestimate the scale of that challenge.
"I will not waver in my pursuit of peace," he said.
On Tuesday, at the UN's climate change summit, Mr Obama acknowledged that the US had been slow to act, but promised a "new era" of promoting clean energy and reducing carbon pollution.
UN SPEECHES ON WEDNESDAY 1300 GMT - General debate 1330 - US President Obama1345 - Libyan Col Gaddafi1715 - UK Prime Minister Brown2015 - Russian President Medvedev2130 - Iranian President Ahmadinejad UN Assembly: Key Issues Big week for Obama at UN Gaddafi protest plannedUN SPEECHES ON WEDNESDAY 1300 GMT - General debate 1330 - US President Obama1345 - Libyan Col Gaddafi1715 - UK Prime Minister Brown2015 - Russian President Medvedev2130 - Iranian President Ahmadinejad UN Assembly: Key Issues Big week for Obama at UN Gaddafi protest planned
Some countries may not take kindly to his words urging greater responsibility if it sounds too much like a lecture, particularly those who feel his commitments to tackle global warning were disappointing, says the BBC's Mark Mardell in New York.Some countries may not take kindly to his words urging greater responsibility if it sounds too much like a lecture, particularly those who feel his commitments to tackle global warning were disappointing, says the BBC's Mark Mardell in New York.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened Wednesday's proceedings by telling the assembled leaders: "Now is the time to put the 'united' back into the United Nations".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened Wednesday's proceedings by telling the assembled leaders: "Now is the time to put the 'united' back into the United Nations".
He outlined problems facing the world - including "catastrophic climate change", the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the global economic crisis - and said the world was looking to the UN for answers.He outlined problems facing the world - including "catastrophic climate change", the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the global economic crisis - and said the world was looking to the UN for answers.
"We must act for all nations and all people. So much is possible if we work together. We are the UN, the best hope for humankind, and now is our time," Mr Ban said."We must act for all nations and all people. So much is possible if we work together. We are the UN, the best hope for humankind, and now is our time," Mr Ban said.
SPEAKER PROTOCOL By tradition dating back to the UN's infancy in the late 1940s, Brazil speaks first after the secretary general opens proceedingsThe US, as host country, speaks secondSubsequent speakers are chosen on a first-come, first-served basisProtocol order is followed: heads of state; heads of government; crown princes; deputy prime ministers; ministers; permanent representativesHowever, the order can change up till the last momentSPEAKER PROTOCOL By tradition dating back to the UN's infancy in the late 1940s, Brazil speaks first after the secretary general opens proceedingsThe US, as host country, speaks secondSubsequent speakers are chosen on a first-come, first-served basisProtocol order is followed: heads of state; heads of government; crown princes; deputy prime ministers; ministers; permanent representativesHowever, the order can change up till the last moment
The order of the speeches is based on protocol, with some flexibility.The order of the speeches is based on protocol, with some flexibility.
A UN spokeswoman described it as a "challenging and meticulous" task to decide the order.A UN spokeswoman described it as a "challenging and meticulous" task to decide the order.
There is an agreed order of hierarchy - with heads of state coming before heads of government and crown princes.There is an agreed order of hierarchy - with heads of state coming before heads of government and crown princes.
But exceptions are made - this time UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will speak before China's head of state, President Hu Jintao.But exceptions are made - this time UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown will speak before China's head of state, President Hu Jintao.
Are you planning to watch the President's speech? Does the United Nations still have a purpose? Send us your views using the form below. You can also send your views on video.Are you planning to watch the President's speech? Does the United Nations still have a purpose? Send us your views using the form below. You can also send your views on video.
Send your videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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