New global order needed to defeat tyranny and misery, Iranian leader tells UN

Iran’s President today called for a new global order, telling the General Assembly that “slave masters and colonial powers” dominate international affairs, oppressing other nations and causing misery and disorder to peoples around the world.

“Governance and management of the world require fundamental reforms,” said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an address to the second day of the General Assembly’s annual general debate, being held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said it was necessary to develop a new plan based on “the very foundation of universal human values such as monotheism, justice, freedom, love and the quest for happiness.”

He stressed there was “no other way than the shared and collective management of the world in order to put an end to the present disorders, tyranny and discriminations worldwide.”

The Iranian leader cited the widespread poverty and economic inequality in the world as evidence that “human societies are yet far from fulfilling their noble desires and aspirations.”

He questioned who was responsible for some of the major wars of the 20th century, for the recent global economic crisis, for imposing slavery and colonialism in the past, and for supporting dictatorships and totalitarian regimes.

“The majority of nations and governments of the world have had no role in the creation of the current global crises, and as a matter of fact, they were themselves the victims of such policies.

“It is as lucid as daylight that the same slave masters and colonial powers that once instigated the two world wars have caused widespread misery and disorder with far-reaching effects across the globe.”

He asked why such countries did not pay reparations to the nations affected by slavery and colonialism.

“If the damage and losses of the period of slavery and colonialism were indeed compensated, what would happen to the manipulators and behind-the-scene political powers in the United States and in Europe? Would there remain any gaps between the North and the South?

“If only half of military expenditures of the United States and its allies in NATO was shifted to help solve the economic problems in their own countries, would they be witnessing any symptom of the economic crisis? What would happen if the same amount was allocated to poor nations?”

Mr. Ahmadinejad added that certain powers were hypocritical as they talked about defending freedom, democracy and human rights “while they militarily attack and occupy other countries.”