Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian addresses UN General Assembly
Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian is speaking now.
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
He responds very angrily to Donald Trump’s speech from yesterday.
“The US president described us as terrorists. We have been the victims of terrorism,” he says.
He says the US “bombed a school” and “children perished under bombs with weapons used by the US and Israel.”
He says Iran “did not bow our head … and responded, but we did not hit civilian populations,” but “only defended ourselves – we are not terrorists.”
As he goes on, the US delegation walks out of the room.
Updated at 10.33 EDT
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US invites Putin to attend G20 summit, says Rubio
The United States has invited Russian president Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 summit of world leaders being held in Miami in December, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said.
“In order to solve problems, you have to meet with the people that you disagree with or the people that you might have some issues with, so we’ve invited president Putin to the G20.
“We think it’s an opportunity for him to engage not just with the president but with other world leaders. We hope that’s an invitation he’ll accept,” Rubio said.
Paraguay’s president Santiago Pena called for Venezuela’s reintegration into the South American trade bloc Mercosur, speaking to world leaders at the UN General Assembly earlier today.
Venezuela has been indefinitely suspended as a member of Mercosur, which comprises some of South America’s biggest economies, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Chile’s president Jose Antonio Kast, whose country is an associate member of the bloc, is scheduled to meet with Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Thursday.
In his speech, Pena also said he wants to see Venezuela undergo a genuine and lasting democratic transition.
Karis says “mutual dependence has begun to be treated as a critical vulnerability” as “aggression, war and conflict risks becoming the new normal”.
He says that millions of people are suffering around the world in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar.
Karis goes on to talk about climate change and says the planet is “on fire”.
“The time to act is now,” he says. “Estonia is contributing its share … yes, the world is on fire, troubles and problems mounting before our eyes.”
President of Estonia Alar Karis speaks during the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Photograph: Sarah Yenesel/EPAShare
Estonia’s Alar Karis is up next.
It’s his last UN speech before he gets succeeded by ombudsman and constitutional lawyer Ülle Madise next month.
Reminder that you can watch all speeches here:
World leaders speak at second day of UN General Assembly – watch liveShareMilei criticises UN, calls it ineffective over Falklands Island dispute with the UK
In his speech, Milei makes it clear he is not a fan of the UN by the sound of it and he escalates his rhetoric on the Falkland Islands and the UK.
Argentina’s president Javier Milei addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
He says the UN “has become a useless organisation whose only purpose is to sustain a cast of fatally arrogant parasites masquerading as well intentioned bureaucrats.”
He says “the alleged defenders of human rights” repeatedly “failed in their task” as they voted against Israel while “remaining silent in the face of Islamis terrorism and the genocide of Christians in Africa.”
He then gets particularly animated about what he calls the Malvinas Islands – the Falkland Islands – which he says “for us are a national cause.”
“An organisation established to defend the territorial sovereignty of its members decided to look the other way with regard to the situation of the Malvinas Island,” he says.
He criticises the Sea Lion Project, a major offshore oil development located in the North Falkland Basin, and says it shows “an unlawful act” as is not authorised by Argentina.
“What use is a resolution if for decades the other party can act in direct contravention of it?” he asks.
He says “there is no shortage of words or resolution, but what is lacking is consequences.”
“That’s why the Malvinas are not merely an issue between Argentina and the United Kingdom. They also raise a question regarding the ability of this organisation to enforce its own resolutions.”
Milei says the principle of self-determination should not apply for the Falkland Islands as “the population was implanted by the occupying power on a territory whose sovereignty is in dispute.”
“We call on the United Kingdom to resume negotiations with a view to finding a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute as required by international law.”
He says somewhat threateningly, without offering more detail that Argentina “will not remain indifferent to those who exploit resources under illegal foreign occupation.”
“I have come to tell you that Argentina is not going to sit around waiting for the UN and the international community to live up to their own mandate. We’re going to take matters into our own hands.”
He then reverts to criticism of the UN as “a bureaucratic leviathan” that deploys “a curious mix of anarchy and tyranny,” showing “impotence in the face of those who break the most basic rules … coupled with Orwellian control and impositions on liberal democracies that abide by the rules.”
He then talks about the Covid-19 pandemic as “a global experiment in social control disguised as science”…
Updated at 11.37 EDT
Argentina’s Javier Milei is up next.
Always a colourful figure, let’s see what he says.
Share‘Russia’s aggressive posture poses a direct threat to European security,’ Czechia’s Pavel says
Meanwhile, Czechia’s Pavel is speaking now, and he joins in warnings about an emerging “power vacuum” in international politics, where “might replaces right.”
Czech Republic’s president Petr Pavel addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/Reuters
Speaking specifically on Ukraine, he warns that “Russia’s aggression continues to inflict enormous suffering on the Ukrainian people, civilians and civilians.”
“Russia’s aggressive posture poses a direct threat to European security as a whole,” he warns, talking about recent incidents involving Russia, including at Leipzig airport in Germany.
But framing his argument more broadly, he says:
“The consequences of aggression reach far beyond Europe. Russia’s war has undermined global food security, disrupting agricultural production, exports and supply chains. Its effects are felt in my country, but even more acutely in parts of Africa and elsewhere, particularly in countries that depend on stable and affordable food supplies.”
He then turns towards Czechia’s bid to get a non-permanent seat on the UN security council for 2032-2033, and to his reflections on AI as he warns that “our ability to govern this technology is not keeping pace with its development.”.
ShareUS delegation walks out from Iran president’s speech in protest – video
Back to Pezeshkian’s speech, here is the moment when the US representative walked out in protest at what he was saying:
US delegation walks out during Iranian president’s UNGA speechShare
Back to the main hall, Czechia’s Petr Pavel is the next leader to speak.
A retired general and former chair of the Nato military committee, the 64-year-old’s defence background is rare among European leaders.
Let’s see what he says.
ShareRussia and Ukraine interested in ‘limited ceasefire’ on grain and energy, US Rubio says
Meanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said after meeting with Russia’s Sergei Lavrov that both Russia and Ukraine had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy.
“We would be open to playing a constructive role in making that happen,” he said, quoted by Reuters.
Let’s see if anything comes out of this.
ShareEmpty US, Israeli seats during Iran president Pezeshkian’s speechThe seats of the US delegation as Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/ReutersThe seats of the Israeli delegation as Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Photograph: Mike Segar/ReutersShare