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Middle East features highly on agenda as UN General Assembly opens
The Middle East was the major talking point yesterday as world leaders took to the podium on the first day of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York yesterday.
US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin appeared to clash sharply over the future of Syria. Obama insisted that there cannot be a “return to the pre-war status quo” in Syria, with President Assad remaining in power. He said, “Let’s remember how this started … Assad reacted to peaceful protests by escalating repression and killing.” However, Putin took to the podium and repeated his support for the Assad regime saying, “We believe it’s a huge mistake to refuse to cooperate with the Syrian authorities, with the government forces, those who are bravely fighting terror.”
Meanwhile, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also addressed the UNGA. He spoke extensively about the dangers of terrorism to the region. He said that counter-terrorism must not only rely on “defensive reaction.” Al-Sisi also emphasised that “it is imperative” to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. However, he added that the current tension at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem underscored the “hurdles and challenges” ahead.
The violence in Jerusalem was also addressed by Jordan’s King Abdullah, who told the gathering that “We reject threats to the holy places and the Arab character of this holy city.” In addition, he said it is “high time” that the world did more to help shoulder the burden of Syrian refugees.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani also took to the podium, taking aim at American actions. He claimed that the United States and in particular its support for Israel stokes Islamist terror. He said, “If we did not have the US military invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, and the US’s unwarranted support for the inhumane actions of the Zionist regime against the oppressed nation of Palestine, today the terrorists would not have an excuse for the justification of their crimes.”