Obama: Anti-Islam video violence attack on UN ideals

26 september 2012 –United States President Barack Obama has told the UN General Assembly that the deadly violence sparked by an anti-Islam video is an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded.

"The events of the last two weeks speak to the need for all of us to address honestly the tensions between the West and an Arab World moving to democracy," he said in the General Debate on its opening day, yesterday 25 September, calling on world leaders to espouse the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Several European leaders took the floor on the first day of the General Debate.

·        French President François Hollande urged the United Nations to address the crisis in Mali by backing a West African countries in a military intervention. He also criticized the Security Council´s "inertia" on Syra and said that  "the Syrian regime will never find its place among the community of nations. It has no future among us."

·        Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy declared that Spain wishes to serve on the Security Council for the years 2015-2016, and said the 15-member body – which many members want to enlarge to bring in more developing countries to permanent seats – needs to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century, building a new Security Council that is more effective, inclusive, representative and responsible to the General Assembly.

·        Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland which is a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council 2013-2014 told the General Assembly that his country had increased its outlay for development assistance over the past years to an annual level of around $1.5 billion. "Development cooperation can assist, especially in the least developed countries. Those countries that already suffer the effects of climate change are particularly vulnerable and in need of our support."