decision, but this white house is managing the decline and putting us in tough >> when america was seen as the world shining light of freedom and justice. that is the america i want for my children. before i even became majority leader, i had a passion for world affairs, because i believe that anyone who wants to lead in washington must commit to america's leadership among the community of nations. and brace america's role and responsibilities preserving safety and security, peace and prosperity, not just within our

borders, but beyond. in the past few years alone, i have visited poland, hungary, estonia, russia, and georgia. i have met with prime minister netanyahu in israel, visited the allies in the arab gulf, trouble withnisia and iraq, met ukraine,dent of yo and met with our allies in germany, france, and the united kingdom. understanding the world, and the wisdom to act when needed, is not measured in frequent flyer miles for endless meetings. affective foreign policy is not about effort, it is measured by success. success in foreign policy, just like the mustard policy, must be governed by sound, unshakable principles. without a clearly stated framework for action, our emmy's will be them -- enemies will be

emboldened by uncertainty and indecision. here is the first and most important principle of american foreign-policy, the world is a safer place when america leads. candidate obama crisscrossing europe, speaking before millions. he traveled to berlin to speak to finding crowds with the goal -- fawning crowds with the goal of improving reputation, but it is not given to those who ask for it, granted only to those who earn it. when it comes to dictators, tyrants, and terrorists, strength and the threat of force is the only language they understand. we have lost the respect of our allies and adversaries alike. we have isolated israel, while

ing iran, russia, and extending influence around the world. wherever you look, the world is less safe and less secure because america is less engaged. the america we need and deserve is strong, respected, appreciated, and feared, a country where the noble cause of freedom inspires millions to stand up and speak out and fight tyranny and injustice, and pursue the individual liberty and human rights. that leads to the second resolvee, strength and brings peace and security. the absence of leadership over the past six years has had horrific consequences all across

the globe, and it is getting worse. our enemy, rogue nations or terrorist groups, see us talk about redlines not to be crossed, defiantly challenging us and crossing them. all too often, america makes bold claims followed by weak response or no response. as a result, our enemies get stronger and america gets weaker. today, our army is that the lowest number since 1940. our troop readiness is severely compromised. our active soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are being neglected after they fought in two wars. those who return home are being disrespected by the v.a. they can't keep this simple promise to meet the need when they need it most, but there is no weakness in these men and women. they are heroes who fought to

ves,'cath, bombed the secured the peace in iraq. the weakness does not lie with them or the officers leading them. the weakness lies with the commander in chief. the reagan doctrine worked because the soviets knew that there was not one inch of soil that we would concede to the spread of communism, not one dollar that we would not spend to spread freedom. peace comes through strength, not retreat. take your's response to russia, the aggression -- take europe's response to russia. withdrawn states has

-- we rolled out the red carpet, a direct threat to radar -- nato and the solidarity of our alliance, yet efforts to roll back russian aggression has failed. seesawednistration has regarding the illegal annexation of crimea and a ground war in eastern koran -- ukraine that continues today, virtually unacknowledged by this white house. the challenge within ukraine is the greatest threat to european security since world war ii. stop letting vladimir

putin set the agenda, stop turning a blind eye to russian aggression. it is time for america to step up, not back down, and that starts with providing ukrainian fighting forces with legal aid. memorandathe budapest agree4 in which ukraine to relinquish nuclear weapons inherited from the soviet union in exchange for the united states, the u.k., and russia to preserve, respect ukraine's of sovereignty and territorial integrity. it is bad enough that russia has violated the memoranda. we should live up to it. the obama administration has argued that providing defense weapons will only encourage additional russian aggression. i disagree. it is weakness that fuels russian aggression, not western actions. president's response to

russian aggression should not be to sit down and talk, but to consider serious sanctions that target president putin personally. they oligarchs who sustain his rain, and their cronies who help them avoid sanctions. we should be making it more difficult for gas from to do business -- the major russian gas company to do business, fueling vladimir putin's belligerent action. threatening to cut gas off to ukraine should not be mistaken for anything else than an act of hostility. it is time to make it much tougher for them to do their dirty business. we must use american energy to help our allies. it defies belief that the president would allow the ban on

iranian oil exports to be lifted and also stand by while russia blackmails a continent. to use energy as a weapon against our friends and allies, let us use our energy resources to set them free. america and oil gas wherever we , the thirdy in need principle for foreign-policy, start standing with our friends and start challenging our adversaries. we must also stand by the side of those who are on our side. we should support those who support freedom and stability, and oppose those who enslave their own people, inspire billions of people across the globe that one day by standing with america, they too can live in free prosperity.

no two countries on earth exemplify this principle more than our relationships with israel and iran. i recently joined three dozen congressional members on a trip , our strongest, closest ally in the region. we listened to people from every political perspective, from decision-makers to ordinary citizens, and all these conversations, we were left with one lasting impression, that people who know iran best trusted them the least. -- trust them the least. israel, saudi arabia, egypt, they know a nuclear iran is a recipe for chaos. many have been coerced into statements of support, but they know full well the dangers of a

nuclear armed iran, and they told us behind closed doors that the iranian deal is the worst decision america can make. this is the same country that has funded terrorists for a generation, the same country that has repeatedly said america is the great sage and, the same country that deceive the world with nuclear infrastructure for more than a decade. whats neighbors know president obama once said, the new deal is better than a bad deal, a better approach was tougher sanctions, not to eliminate them. , i these reasons and more stand with the majority of the american people on a nuclear deal with iran. why? this agreement fails to achieve what we all want, safety, security, and stability in the middle east and across the world. instead, i nuclear-armed iran

will bring terror and war, and more destruction. easteople of the middle deserve better, and so to the american people. the evidence of iranian tension is overwhelming. from the funding of hezbollah, to the use of force in actively supporting another force after the staging of the coup against the human president -- yemen president. it is unconscionable that the president's nuclear deal does nothing to restrain iranian backed terror. it enhances it. iran spends about $16 billion per year, a conservative estimate, backing its proxies. what do we think iran will do with $150 billion? perspective, that is

as large or larger than the recent bailout of greece. funding fored terrorism is the greatest fear from our allies in the region as a direct result of humiliating concessions by president obama and secretary kerry. safety, security, and stability in the middle east and around the world. we must once again take control y, the sanctions that brought them to the table was working, so let us do what works, because the president chose to submit this agreement not as a treaty, the next president is not bound by it. the next president can take a new approach, one based on a position of strength, not a concessions. sanction relief should only be granted when nations abandoned a

coordinated campaign of violence and terrorism. you don't induce your enemies into good behavior, you make it painful to continue the bad behavior. iran is not the only challenge that we face in the middle east. iraq is a country where americans have fought and died to bring stability and protected security. thatld venture to guess all 15 candidates for president have been asked that same question, would you have gone to war if you knew what you knew now. you know what question i have not heard the democrats ask? if you knew our total unconditional withdrawal from iraq with lead to the creation and expansion of isis, the mass execution of moderate moslems, the slaughter of coptic christians, to syrian children

washing ashore as they fled bashar al-assad, would you still support the president's complete withdrawal from iraq? would you still defend drawing redlines without consequences? would you support a policy that has given isis a caliphate the size of the u.k.? would you give up cities like ramadi, where marines gave the last measure of devotion so the president could keep a campaign promise? i look for to the question being asked. we need an entirely new policy in iraq and syria. the iraqi army is no longer up to the task, and the coalition air were against isis in iraq and syria have failed to reverse 's gains. the u.s. needs to engage and meet again. our goal should be to defeat

isis, marginalize iranian influence, and help to foster a system of political inclusiveness rather than sectarian division. the u.s. and our allies should also consider putting a limited number of u.s. special forces personnel on the ground and call inthe wire to help truly effective air strikes and provide more effective support to the iraq he army, the sunni, and kurdish units engaged in the fight. many combat missions flown over iraq come back without ever dropping a bomb. this is because we have limited intelligence. we have tied the hands of our commanders and micromanaged from the white house. when we ask our brave men and women to risk our lives every and we must fight to win empower them to fight and win. in addition to real hard power, we could do more on the soft

power as well. unlike during the surge in iraq, when general petraeus had an effective political strategy to , noh the military strategy such effort exists today. working with iragi leaders and including a nonsectarian government plan is essential to moving forward. in nearby syria, the situation is even worse and bleak. to decision to back down bashar al-assad caused insurmountable harm to america's credibility, but it did not end there. this administration engage with russia, one of bashar al-assad's top supporters, to broker an agreement for the destruction of bashar al-assad's chemical weapons. protectively, he

continues to use chemical weapons to the day. and russia? rapidly increasing support for bashar al-assad, tanks, personnel, and fighter jets. when president obama back down, russia and iran doubled down. syria amongnexus in russia, iran, and bashar al-assad has all but assured the failure of this administration's plan to coax bashar al-assad from power. theconflict has created worst refugee crisis since world war ii. roughly half of syria's population has been displaced. over 4 million have fled to horton, lebanon, and turkey, and europe. turkey,rdan, lebanon, and europe. how heartbreaking was it when we all watched a young three-year-old boy face down on the beach of turkey? it brought reality home.

the situation only appears to be getting worse. finally, i think we should work with our allies to establish a no-fly zone over northern city -- syria. this safe zone with stem the flow of refugees and allow sanctuary for the syrian rebels to take on isis, al qaeda, affiliated groups. whether it is in the form of isis or al qaeda or other radical islamic movements, one thing is clear. politically correct speech will not defeat the enemy. we must engage this war with radical islam as though our life depends on it, because it does. we have watched london, paris, new york, and washington.

we have all seen the face of terror. now let me be clear, this is not the view of a great majority of moslems here and abroad. american moslems make this country better, in the same is true of the millions of moslems across the world, they reject extremism as much as we do. ofmall percentage well-funded islamic fanatics hate those moderate moslems as much as christians and juice, and they will stop at nothing to rid the world of all three. , and if ipeats itself look at history of where we are, it seems a lot like 1979. there are a lot of things falling into familiar categories. the soviets invading afghanistan, and today russia in crimea and ukraine.

islamic fanatics overtaking an embassy of hours in iran, , and therehostage are four hostages there today. not even to count the number murdered by isis throughout the world. the last time a u.s. ambassador was killed on foreign soil, a direct reflection of the respect and fear that other countries afghanistan,979 in and stephen and the three brave americans in libya. then and now, the conflict is a direct result of a week american leadership. .- wak american leadership it only took 10 years to go from a world entails to freeing hostages, to the tumbling of the berlin wall, to the liberating the eastern block, to the

communist soviet union collapsing. it all caps and -- happened because of america's leadership and resolve, three fundamental principles guiding us forward. the world is safer when america leads. strength and resolve for the best recipe for peace and security. allies stands with its and challenges its adversaries, there is no substitute for american leadership, and there is no time like the president to start -- present to start. the fate of the world is in our hands. done soo what must be that someday we can tell our children that we protected freedom when it was challenged the most, that we stood up to tyrants and terrorists, that we stood with those who were oppressed and freedom loving, that we became the america that

the world has counted on so many times once again. you and your children deserve that america. thank you and god bless. [applause] >> house majority leader kevin mccarthy announced in a letter that he is officially seeking the job of house speaker when john boehner steps down from the position at the end of october. "i'm runningads, to be your speaker because i know that the people's house works best when you listen to members and respects the legislative process entrusted to committees." that to becomes the speaker of the house, kevin mccarthy will need to find 218 supporters on the floor, and the

story says that with only room to lose 29th, that will require him to navigate the same political currents that dog speaker john boehner during his five years in power. daniel webster is the only other contender. nations, president obama and russian president vladimir putin met today for the first time in more than one year. you see them here just before that meeting. president obama: thank you, everybody. >> onthe two leaders disagree how to handle the situation in syria, and gave a public preview and speeches to the united nations general assembly. first, we will hear from

president obama, who urges a political transition to replace the president, and then vladimir putin's remark that it would be a mistake.

years after the founding of the united nations, it is worth reflecting on what together the members of this body have helped to achieve. out of the ashes of the second world war, having witnessed the unthinkable power of the atomic has the united states worked with many nations in this assembly to prevent a third world war by forging alliances with old adversaries, by supporting the steady emergence of strong democracies, accountable to their people instead of any foreign power. an international system that imposes a cost on those who choose conflict over cooperation.

in order that recognizes the dignity of equal worth and all people. that recognizes the dignity of equal worth in all of sevenhe work decades. that is the work this body has pursued. of course, there have been too many times when collectively we have fallen short of these ideals. terriblen decades, comprehensive claimed untold victims. we have pressed forward. steadily, we have pressed forward to make a system of international rules and norms that have made the world stronger and more consistent. it is this international order that is underwritten unparalleled advances in liberty

and prosperity. it is this collective endeavor that has brought about diplomatic cooperation between the world's major powers and buttress a global economy that has lifted more than one billion people from poverty. it is these international principles that help constrain bigger countries from imposing their will on smaller ones. it advanced the emergence of democracy and development, individual liberty on every continent. real.rogress is in lives documented saved and documents forged and in mouths fed, and yet we come together knowing that the march of human progress never travels in a straight line, that

our work is far from complete, that dangerous currents risk pulling us back into a darker, moore distorted, world. today we see the collapse of strong men and fragile states breeding conflict and driving innocent men, women, and children across borders on an epic scale. brutal networks of terror have stepped into the vacuum, technologies that empower individuals are also exploited by those who spread disinformation or suppress dissent or radicalize our youth. havel capital flows that powered growth and investment contagion,ncreased we can workers, and accelerated

inequality. how should we respond to these trends? those who argued that the ideals enshrined in the u.n. charter are unachievable or out , a legacy of a post-war era not suited to our own. effectively, they argue for the roles that have applied for the most of human history, ones that predate this institution, a believe that power is a zero-some game, that might makes right. that strong states must impose their will on weaker ones, that the rights of individuals don't time ofand that in a rapid change, order must be imposed by force.

on this basis, we cede some major powers assert themselves in a way that contravenes international law. we see an erosion of the democratic principles, human rights, that are fundamental to this institution's mission. information is strictly controlled, the space for civil society restricted. we are told that such retrenchment is required to beat back disorder, that it is the only way to stamp out terrorism, or prevent foreign meddling. in accordance with this logic, we should support tyrants like bashar al-assad, who drops barrel bombs to massacre innocent children because the .lternative is surely worse the increasing skepticism of our international order can also be found in the most advanced

democracies. we see greater polarization, more frequent gridlock, movements on the far right, and sometimes the left, that insist on stopping the trade that binds our fates to other nations, the building of walls to keep out , and most ominously, we see the fears of ordinary exploited through appeals to secretary and is or ,acism or anti-semitism appealing to a glorious past before the body politic was affected or worship god differently. a politics of us versus them. the united states is not immune from this. even as our economy is growing and our troops have largely returned from iraq and

afghanistan, we see in our debates about america's role in the world, a notion of strength that is defined by opposition to old enemies, perceived adversaries, a rising china, a resurgent russia, a revolutionary iran, or islam incompatible with peace. that the argument made only strength that matters for the united states is because bellicose words and military force, the cooperation and diplomacy will not work. as president of the united states, i am mindful of the

dangers that we face. they cross my desk every morning. the strongest military that the world has ever known, and i will never hesitate to protect my country or our allies unilaterally and by force where necessary. todaystand before you ,elieving in my core that we the nations of the world, cannot return to the old ways of conflict and four version -- coercion. we cannot look backwards. we live in an integrated world, one in which we all have a stake in each other's success. we cannot turn back those forces of integration. no nation in this assembly can insulate itself from the threat of terrorism or the risk of

financial contagion, the flow of migrants or the danger of a warming planet. the disorder we see is not driven solely by competition between nations or any single if we cannot work together more effectively, we will all suffer the consequences . that is true for the united states as well, no matter how powerful our military, how , weng our economy understand that the united states cannot sold the world's problems alone. in iraq, the united states learned the hard lesson that even hundreds of thousands of

brave, effective troops, trillions of dollars from our treasury, cannot by itself impose stability on a foreign land. unless we work with other nations under the mantle of international norms and that offersnd law legitimacy to our efforts, we will not succeed. and unless we work together to defeat the ideas that drive different communities in a country like iraq into conflict, any order that our military can impose will be temporary. and just as force alone cannot , iose order internationally believe in my court that repression cannot force the social cohesion for nations to succeed. the history of the last two decades proves that in today's world, dictatorships are

unstable. the strong today become the spark of revolution tomorrow. you can jail your opponents, but you can't imprison ideas. you can try to control access to information, but you cannot turn a light into truth. into truth. it is not a conspiracy of government ngos that raise expectations of people around the globe. it is technology, social media, and the reducible desire of people everywhere to make their own choices about how they are re.rned -- you the measure of strength is no longer defined by the control of territory. prosperity does not come from the ability to access and extract raw materials. of nations depends

on the success of their people, their knowledge, their innovation, their imagination, their creativity, their drive, their opportunity, and that in turn depends on individual rights and good governance and personal security. internal repression and foreign aggression are both symptoms of the failure to provide this foundation. a politics and solidarity that depends on demonizing others, draws on sectarianism or tribalism or jingoism, may at times looked like strength in the moment, but over time, it's weakness will be exposed, and history tells us that the dark forces unleashed makes all of us unsecure. our world has been there before.

we gain nothing from going back. instead, i believe that we must go forward in pursuit of our ideals, not abandon them at this critical time. we must give expression to best hopes, not our deepest fears. this institution was founded because men and women who came before us had the foresight to know that our nations are more secure when we uphold basic laws and basic norms and pursue a path of cooperation over conflict. all have aons above responsibility to uphold this international order. let me give you a concrete example. after i took office, i make clear that one of the principal achievements of this body, the

nuclear nonproliferation regime, was endangered by iran's violations. on that basis, the security council-sanctions on the iranian government and many nations joined us to enforce them. together, we show that laws and , butments mean something we also understood that the goal of sanctions was not something to punish iran. our objective was to test whether iran could change course, except constraints, and allow the world to verify that its nuclear program will be peaceful. for two years, the united states and our partners, including russia, including china, stuck negotiationsomplex . the result is a lasting, conference of deal that prevents iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while allowing them to

access peaceful energy. if this deal is fully implement it, the prohibition on nuclear weapons strengthened, a potential war is averted, our world is safer. that is the strength of the international system when it works the way it should. that same fidelity to international order guides our responses to other challenges around the world. annexation ofa's crimea and aggression in ukraine. america has few economic interest in ukraine. we recognize the deep and complex history between russia , but we cannot

stand by when the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a nation is violated. if that happens without consequence in ukraine, it can happen to any nation gathered here today. basis of the sanctions that united states and our partners impose on russia, not a desire to return to a cold war. within russia, state-controlled media may describe these events as an example of a resurgent shared by the way by a number of u.s. politicians and commentators who have always been deeply skeptical of russia and seemed to be convinced that a new cold war is in fact upon us. and yet, look at the results. the ukrainian people are more interested than ever in aligning with europe instead of russia, capitals have led to

flight, a contracting economy, falling ruble, and the immigration of more educated russians. imagine if instead russia had engaged in true diplomacy and worked with ukraine and the international community to ensure that its interests were protected. that would be better for ukraine, but also better for russia, and better for the world , which is why we continue to press for this crisis to be way that result in a allows a sovereign and democratic ukraine to control its future and territory, not because we want to isolate russia, we don't. we want a strong russia that is invested in working with us to strengthen the international system as a whole.

similarly, in the south china sea, the united states makes no claim on territory there. we don't adjudicate claims. like every nation gathered here, we have an interest in upholding the free flow of commerce, and resolving disputes through international law, not the law of force. so we will defend these principles, while encouraging china and other claimants to resolve their differences peacefully. i say this recognizing that diplomacy is hard, that the outcomes are sometimes unsatisfying, that is rarely ilitically popular, but

believe that leaders of large nations in particular have an obligation to take these risks precisely because we are strong enough to protect our interests if and when diplomacy fails. i also believe that to move , we haven this new era to be strong enough to acknowledged that what we are doing is not working. for 50 years, the united states pursued a policy that failed to pursue -- improve the lives of the cuban people. we changed that. we continued to have differences with the cuban government and will continue to stand up for human rights, but we address these issues through diplomatic increase and commerce and people-to-people ties. if these contacts yield

progress, i am confident that our congress should lift an embargo that should not be in place anymore. [applause] change will not come overnight to cuba, but i am confident that openness, not coercion, will support the reforms and better people, of the cuban just as i believe in cuba will find success if it pursues cooperation with other nations. if it is in the interest of major powers to uphold international standards, it is even more true for the rest of the community of nations. look around the world. columbia tore to , the facts show that nations succeed when they pursue an inclusive peace and

prosperity within the borders, and work cooperatively with countries beyond their borders. that path is now available to a nation like iran, which as of this moment continues to deploy violent proxies to advance its interests. these efforts may appear to give iran leverage, but they fuel sectarian conflict that endangers the entire region and isolates iran from the promise of trading commerce. the iranian people have a proud history filled with extraordinary potential, but america" doesh to not create jobs or make iran more secure. if iran chooses a different path , that would be good for the security of the region, good for the iranian people, and good for the world.

of course, around the globe we will continue to be confronted with nations who reject these lessons of history, places where civil strife and border disputes and sectarian wars bring about terrorist enclaves and humanitarian disasters, where order has completely broken down . we must act. we will be stronger when we act together. efforts, the united states will always do our part. we will do so mindful of the lessons of the past, not just the lessons of iraq, but also the example of libya, where we joined an international coalition under a u.n. mandate to prevent the slaughter, even as we help the libyan people ring and into the reign of a

tyrant. our coalition could have and should have done more to fill a vacuum left behind. we are grateful to the united nations for its efforts to forge a unity government. we will help any legitimate libyan government as it works to bring the government together, but we also have to recognize that we must work more effectively in the future as an international community to build capacity for states that are in collapse --ore the they collapsed, and that is why we should celebrate the fact that later today the united states will join with more than 50 countries to enlist new capabilities, infantry, intelligence, helicopters, hospitals, and tens of thousands of troops, to strengthened united nations peacekeeping. [applause]

these new capabilities can prevent mass killing and ensure that peace agreements are more than words on paper. but we have to do it together, together, we must rank in our collective capacities to establish security where order has broken down and to support those who seek a just and lasting peace. nowhere is our commitment to international order more tested .han in syria when a dictator slaughters tens of thousands of his own people, that is not just a matter of one nation's internal affairs. it breeds human suffering on a magnitude that affects us all.

likewise, when a terrorist group beheads captives, slaughters the innocent, and enslaves women, it is not a single nation's security problem. that is an assault on all our humanity. , and i wille repeat, there is no room for accommodating an apocalyptic cult like isis, and the united states makes no apologies using our military to go after them as part of a broad coalition. we do so with a determination to ensure that there will never be a safe haven for terrorists who carry out these crimes. we have demonstrated over more than a decade of relentless pursuit of al qaeda that we will not be outlasted by extremists. while military power is necessary, it is not sufficient to resolve the situation in syria. lasting stability can only take hold when the people of syria

for an agreement to live together peacefully. the united states is prepared to work with any nation, including russia and iran, and resolve the conflict. but we must recognize that there cannot be after so much bloodshed and carnage a return to the pre-were status quo. -- pre-war status quo. let's remember, bush are al-assad reacted to peaceful --tests -- but sure al-assad bashar al-assad reacted to peaceful protest that created the environment for the current strife. pacifyhis allies cannot the large majority of the

population that has been brutalized by chemical weapons and indiscriminate bombing. dictates that compromise will be required to end the fighting and stamp out isis, but realism also requires a managed transition away from bashar al-assad and to a new leader, and an inclusive government that recognizes there must the and into this chaos so that the syrian people can rebuild. know that isis, which emerged out of the chaos of iraq and syria, depends on perpetual war to survive, but they gained adherents because of a poisonous ideology. part of our job together is to reject such extremism that affects too many of our young people. part of that effort must be a slimsnued rejection by mu

of those who distort islam, promote violence, and must involve a rejection of the ignorance that equates islam with terror. [applause] this work will take time. there are no easy answers to syria, and no simple answers to the changes taking place and much of the middle east and north africa. families need help right now. they don't have time. that is why the united states is increasing the number of refugees that we welcome within our borders. that is why we will continue to be the largest donor to support those refugees, and today we are launching new efforts to ensure our people and our businesses,

our university, and our ngos can help as well. in the face of suffering families, our nation of immigrants seized ourselves. thinking, thes of plight of the powerless, refugees, marginalize, that did not matter. they were on the periphery of 's concerns. today, our concern is not driven only by conscience, but also by self interest. helping people who have been pushed to the margins of our world is not charity. it is a matter of collective security. institutionof this is not merely to avoid conflict, but to galvanize action that makes life better on this planet. the commitments we made to the sustainable develop goal speak to this truth.

i believe that capitalism has been the greatest creator of wealth. prosperity is out of reach for too many. that wencis reminds us are stronger when we value the least among these. when we see them as equal in ourity to ourselves and sons and daughters. we can rollback preventable -- stamp outff pandemics that do not recognize borders. our work may not be on television, but as we demonstrated, reversing the spread of ebola can save more lives than anything else we can do. eradicate --can

but this requires a sustained commitment. so entrepreneurs can start of this is without paying a bribe, so young people have the skills they need to compete in a modern knowledge-based economy. we can promote growth through trade that meets a higher standard, and that is what we are doing through a trade agreement that encompasses nearly 40% of the global economy. an agreement that will open markets while protecting the rights of workers and protecting .he environment we can rollback the pollution helped put -- and economies lift people out of poverty's without condemning our children to the ravages of an ever-warming climate. the same ingenuity that produce the industrial age and the computer age allows us to

harness the potential of clean energy. no country can escape the ravages of climate change. there is no stronger sign of leadership in putting future generations first. the united states will work with every nation that is willing to do its part so that we can come together to decisively confront this challenge. finally, our vision for the future of this assembly, my in moving forward rather than backwards, requires us to defend the democratic principles that allow societies to succeed. let me start from a simple , catastrophes like what we are seeing in countries where there is genuine democracy and

respect for the universal bayous that this institution is supposed to defend. values that this institution is supposed to defend. [applause] takeognize democracy will different forms and different parts of the world. the very idea of a people governing themselves depends upon government giving expression to their unique culture, the unique history, their unique experience, but some universal truths are self-evident. no person wants to be in prison for peaceful worship. no woman should ever be of use or be barred from going to school. freedom to peacefully petition those in power without fear of arbitrary laws, these are not ideas of one country or one culture, they are

fundamental to human progress. they are a cornerstone of this institution. i realize that in many parts of the world there is a different view, a believe that strong leadership must tolerate no dissent. i hear it not only from america's adversaries, but i privately cured from some of our friends. i disagree. i believe that a government that suppresses peaceful dissent does not show strength. it is showing weakness and fear. [applause] history shows that the regimes will eventually crumble, but strong institutions built on the consent of the governed indoor

endure after anyone strong individual is gone. leaders have elevated the importance of building strong democratic institutions over a thirst for perpetual power. leaders who amend constitutions to stay in office only acknowledged that they failed to build a successful country for their people, because none of us last forever. it tells us that power is something they cling to for its own sake, rather than for the betterment of those they purport to serve. i understand democracy is frustrating. democracy in the united states is certainly in perfect --

imperfect, at times it can be dysfunctional, but democracy, the constant struggle to extend rights, to give more people a toce, is what allowed us become the most powerful nation in the world. [applause] it is not simply a matter of principle. it is not an obstruction. inclusive democracy makes countries stronger. parties can seek power easily through a ballot, a country draws upon new ideas. when a freak media can inform the public, corruption and abuse are exposed and can be rooted out. thrives,l society communities can solve problems that governments cannot necessarily solve alone.

-- that is when a country realizes it's full potential. that is what i believe is america's greatest strength. not everybody agrees with me. that is part of democracy. i believe the fact that you can watch the streets -- walk the streets of the city right now and pass mosques, synagogues, and churches were people worship freely is what makes us great. a fact that in this country, everybody can contribute. everybody can participate no

matter who they are or what they look like or who they love. us strong.t makes and, i believe what is true for america is true for virtually all democracies and that is no accident. we can be proud of our nations without defining ourselves in opposition to some other group. withoute patriotic demonizing someone else. we can cherish our traditions without putting others down. our systems are premised on the notion that absolute power will corrupt. people, ordinary people, are fundamentally good, that they value family and friendship and faith and the dignity of hard work. and with appropriate checks and

balances, governments can reflect this goodness. i believe that is the future we must seek to gather. believe in the dignity of every individual. bridge ourwe can differences and choose cooperation. that is not weakness. that is strength. necessary inical this interconnected world. families.l think of the liberian doctor. think of the iranian shopkeeper, who set out. think of the americans who lowered the flag over our

embassy the year i was born and returned this summer to raise that flag backup. back up. one of these men set of the cuban people, we can do things for them and they can do things for us. we love them. ignored that we fact. think of the families leaving everything they have known behind. risking baron deserts and stormy waters just to find shelter. just to save their children. one syrian refugee was greeted in hamburg with shelter and said, we feel there are still some people who love other people. our united nations

are not as if her and as they >> they can be made to fear. they can be taught to hate. but they can also respond to hope. history is littered with false prophets and fallen empires. that will continue to be the case. we are called upon to offer a different type of leadership. leadership strong enough to nations share common interests in people share common humanity. there are certain ideas and principles that are universal. that is what those who shaped

the u.s. understood. let us carry forward that into the future. it is the only way we can ensure that the future will be brighter. for my children and for yours. thank you very much. [applause] >> on behalf of the assembly, i wish to think the president of the u.s. for the statement just made. seated while we greet the president.

announcer: in contrast, russian president vladimir putin told the gathering of leaders that there was no alternative to cooperating with the syrian president. president vladimir putin called for the creation of our broader international antiterrorist coalition with the majority of muslim countries as members. [applause] >> i have the honor to welcome to the united nations his excellency vladimir putin and invite him to address the assembly.

president vladimir putin: your excellency, mr. president, mr. secretary general, distinguished heads of state and government. ladies and gentlemen. the anniversary of the united nations is an occasion to talk about history and talk about our future. in 1945, countries joint efforts to create accommodations for the post-war world that we remind you that the key decisions on the principle of cooperations of states and the establishment of the united nations were made in our country. stablishment of the united nations were made in our country.

it was born at the cost of tens and millions of lives. it helped that humanity through turbulent times -- it saves the world from upheaval. is unique intions its legitimacy, representation. true that the u.n. has been criticized for not being efficient, that the decision-making of fundamental issues stalls to two insurmountable differences among the members. however, i would like to point out that there have always been

differences throughout all of these years. -- has always been exercised by the u.s., the u.k., france, china, the soviet union. it is absolutely natural for so diverse and representative an organization -- its founders did not think there had always been unanimity. the purpose is to reach taking different views and opinions and consideration. decisions debated are either taken as resolutions are not. actions states might

and defiedlegitimate international law. the end of the cold war, everybody was aware of a single center of domination. those who found themselves at the top of the pyramid were that if theyink were so exceptional, they knew better and they did not have to reckon with the united nations itsead of legitimizing necessity often creating obstacles or in other words terms in the way. it has become commonplace to see that in its original form, has become obsolete and completed his historical mission. the world is changing. the u.n. must be consistent with

this transformation. russia is ready to work together with partners on consensus. we consider the attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the organization is extremely dangerous. it could lead to a collapse of international relations. they were be no other rules left with the rule of four we get a world dominated by selfishness. a world increasingly dictated by -- then equality. they would be less democracy and freedom. it is basically about freedom.

and the right to feel one's own future for every person or nation. colleagues, the question of the onealled legitimacy -- should not play with her manipulate words. turn in international law and have transparent uniformly understood -- we are all different and we should respect that. conform to the only right one. we should all remember what our fathers taught us. we must also remember episodes from the history of the soviet

union, social experiments and attempts to push changes and other countries based on ideological preferences, often leading to tragic consequences. into degradation rather than progress. however, from learning from others mistakes, everybody just keeps repeating them. so-called democratic revolutions continued. the situation in the middle east such politicala, and social problems have been piling up for a long time. people wished for changes, naturally. rather thanurn out? , there has been a brazen destruction of national

institutions and set of the triumph of democracy, we have violence, poverty. nobody cares a bit about human rights including the right to life. those, doelp asking you realize what you have done? i'm afraid nobody is going to answer that. policies based on punitively have been abandoned. that the power has been filled with extremists and terrorists. tens of thousands of militants are fighting under the banner of the so-called islamic state.

servicemen who were thrown out into the street after -- in 2003. libya,ruits come from whose country that was destroyed. -- and now the ranks have been joined by the members of the so-called moderate syrian opposition supported by the western countries. first they armed and trained and then they defect to the so-called islamic state. besides the islamic state itself did not just come from nowhere. it was also initially forged as a tool against undesirable secular regimes. having established a foothold in iraq and syria, the islamic state has become active in other regions. it's seeking dominance in the islamic world. it goes further than that. the situation is more than dangerous.

in these circumstances it is hypothetical and irresponsible to make loud declarations about the threat of international terrorism while turning a blind eye to the channels of financing and supporting terrorists, including the proceeds of trafficking and illicit trade in oils and arms. it will be equally irresponsible to try to manipulate extreme groups and place them among service in order to achieve political goals in the hope of later dealing with them or, in other words, liquidating them. to those who do so, i would like to say dear sirs, no doubt you are dealing with rough and cruel people. but they are no way primitive. they are just as clever as you are. you never know who is manipulating whom. there is data of arms

transferred to this most moderate opposition is the best proof of it. we believe that any attempts to play games with terrorists, to arm them, are not just shortsighted. this may result in the global terrorist threat increasing dramatically and engulfing new regions, especially give the islamic state camps train militants from many countries, including the european countries. russia is not an exception. we cannot allow these criminals who already tasted blood to return home and continue their evil doings. no one wants this to happen. no one but president assad's forces we know all about the troubles.

resisting those just like the nazis so evil and hatred of humankind.

what we propose is to be guided by common values and interests rather than ambition. we must join efforts to her dress the problems that all of us are facing and create generally broad international coalition against terrorism. similar to the anti-hitler coalition, it would unite forces that resist those just like the -- nazis so evil and hatred of humankind. and naturally, the modern countries are to play a key role in the coalition. also because the islamic state does not only pose a direct threat to them, but also desecrates one -- against terrorism. similar to the coalition it could unite a broad range of forces that is the greatest world religions by its bloody crimes. it makes a mockery of islamists

from its true humanistic values. i would like to address the muslim leaders as well. your authority and your guidance are of great importance right now. it is essential to prevent people recruited by militants from making hasty decisions and those who have already been deceived and who, due to various standards, found themselves among terrorists need help in finding a way back to normal life, laying down arms, and putting an end to if fratricide. russia will shortly convene as the current president of the security council and ministerial meeting to carry out a comprehensive analysis of threats in the middle east. first of all, we propose discussing whether it's possible to agree on the resolution named at coordinating the actions of all the forces that confront the islamic state and other terrorist organizations. once again, this ordination should be based on the principles of the u.n. charter. we hope that the international

community will be able to develop a comprehensive strategy of political stabilization as well as social and economic recovery. then, dear friend, there would be no need for new refugee camps. today the flow of people who were forced to leave their homeland has literally engulfed neighboring countries and then europe itself. there are hundreds of thousands of them now and there might be millions before long. in fact, it is a new great and tragic migration of people. and it is a harsh lesson for all of us, including europe. i would like to stress refugees undoubtedly need our compassion and support. however, the only way to solve this problem at a fundamental level is to restore the statehood where it has been destroyed, the government institutions where they still exist or being re-established to provide comprehensive assistance of military, economic, and

material nature to countries in a difficult situation and certainly to those people who, besides all the orr deals, will not abandon their homes. literally, any assistance to sovereign states can and must be offered rather than imposed exclusively and solely in accordance with the u.n. charter. in other words, everything in this field that has been done and will be done pursuant to the norms of international law must be supported by our organization. he above all, i believe it is of the utmost importance to help restore government's institutions in libya, support the new government of iraq, and provide comprehensive assistance to the legitimate government of syria. dear colleagues, ensuring peace and regional and global stability remains the key of the international community with the u.n. we believe this means creating a

face of equal and invisible security which is not for the select few yet it is a time consuming task. but there is no other alternative. however the thinking of the times of the cold war and -- political areas is still present among some of our colleagues. plus they continue their policy of expanding nato -- soviet union has collapsed and nevertheless nato continues expanding as well as its military infrastructure than they offered the poor soviet countries a false choice either to be with the west or the east. sooner or later the logic of confrontation was bound to spark a. this is what happened in ukraine where the discontent of population with the current authorities was used and the military coup was orchestrated

from outside and a civil war result. i'm confident that only through implementation of the minks agreement of february 12, 2015, can put an end to the blood shed and find a way out. ukraine's territorial integrity cannot -- what is needed to the genuine consideration for the interest and rise of the people and respect to their choice. there is a need to coordinate with them as provided for the key element of the country's political structure. these will guarantee that ukraine will develop as a civilized state, as essential link and building a common space of security and economic cooperation both in europe and euroasia. ladies and gentlemen, i have mentioned these common space economic agreement on purpose. not long ago it seems that in the economic fear with its

objective market laws we left without dividing lines. we will build on transparent and jointly formulated rules, including the w.t.o. principles for the freedom of trade, investment, and open competition. nevertheless, today, it has become more commonplace in addition to pursuing political objective, these sanctions serve as a means of eliminating competitors. i would like to point out another sign of growing economic selfishness. some countries have chosen to create growth and exclusive economic association. with a negotiation behind the scenes in secret from its own citizens, business community, and other countries. other states whose interests may be affected are not informed of anything, either. it seems that we are about to be faced with an accomplished fact that the rules of game have been

changed in favor of a group of the privileged with the w.t.o. having no say. this could unbalance the trade system completely and disintegrate the global economy. these issues affect the interest of all faiths and influence the future of the world economy as a whole. that is why we propose discussing them within the u.n., w.t.o., and g-20. contrary to the policy of exclusiveness, russia proposes original economic project. i refer to the so-called integration of integration based on universal and transparent rules of international trade. as an example, i would like to cite our plans to interconnect the eurasian economic conclusion. we still believe that harmonizing the integration process within the eurasian economic union and european union is highly promising.

ladies and gentlemen, the issues that effect the future of all people include the challenge of global climate change. it is in our interest to make the u.n. climate change conference to be held in december in paris a success. as part of our national contribution, we plan to reduce by 2030 the greenhouse gas emissions to 70%, 75% of the 1990 level. i suggest, however, we should take a wider view on this issue. yes, we might diffuse the problem for a while by setting quotas on harmful emissions, taking other measures. but we will not solve it that way. we need a completely different approach. we have to focus on introducing fundamental and new technologies which will not damage the environment but would be in harmony with it.

also they would allow us to restore the balance between the biosphere by human activities. it is a challenge. but i'm confident humankind has intellectual potential to address it. we need to join our efforts. i refer to the states that have a solid research basis and that have made significant advances in fundamental science. we propose convening a special forum for a comprehensive consideration of the issues related to the depletion of natural resources, destruction of habitat, and climate change. russia would be red host such a forum. ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, it was on the 10th of january, 1946, in london, that the u.n. general assembly gathered for its first session. a columbian diplomat and chairman of the commission

opened the session by giving, i believe, a definition of the basic principles that the u.n. should follow which are free will, and spirit of cooperation. today his words sound as a guidance for all of us. russia believes in the huge potential of the united nations which should help us avoid a new global confrontation and engage in strategic operation. together with other countries we'll consistently work towards central coordinating role of the u.n. i'm confident by working together we will make the world's stable and safe as well as provide conditions for the development of all states and nations. thank you. [applause]

president rouhani: the most compassionate, most merciful, praise be to allah, and peace and greetings to prophet muhammad. mr. president, i am speaking on behalf of a great nation. who is mourning the loss of thousands of muslim pilgrims and hundreds of its own citizens. old, young, men, and women who have come together in the grand and global spiritual gathering of the hajj. but unfortunately fell victims to the incompetence and mismanagement of those in charge.

due to their unaccountability, even the missing cannot be identified and the expeditious return of the bodies of the deceased to their mourning families has been prevented. the scope of a islamity in which thousands of innocent people from the four corners of the world has been killed and wounded is so broad that it cannot be dealt with as a natural disaster or local issue. the pain and emotional distress inflicted on millions of muslims is greater than what can be repaired nearly through material calculations.

public opinion demands that saudi arabia -- saudi arabian officials promptly fulfill their international obligations and grant immediate counselor access for the expeditious identification and return of the cherished bodies and remains. moreover, it is necessary that the conditions are prepared for an independent and precise investigation into the causes of this disaster and ways of preventing its repetition in the future. mr. president, distinguished secretary general, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, i am speaking on behalf of a nation that two years ago, again, voted for constructive engagement with the world and i can now proudly

announce that today a new chapter has started in iran's relations with the world. two years ago the people of iran in a competitive election with their votes gave me a mandate for consolidating peace and constructive engagement with the world while pursuing national rights, interests, and security. this national will manifested itself through a careful and clear diplomatic effort which results -- resulted in the joint comprehensive plan of action between the islamic republic of iran and six world powers that was immediately turned into an international instrument with the ratification of the united nations security council.

from the standpoint of international law, this instrument sets a strong precedent wherefore the first time two sides rather than negotiating peace after war engaged in dialogue and understanding before the eruption of conflicts. at this point i deem it necessary to recognize the rome of all the -- role of all the negotiators in achieving this agreement. we had decided to bring about a you new environment while maintaining our principles and we succeeded in doing so. where necessary, we moved forward and where necessary we showed the courage for flexibility. at each point we made use of the full capacity of international law and showcased the potentials of constructed -- constructive dialogue.

the key point regarding the success of dialogue is the fact that any actor in the international system who pursues maximalist demands and does not allow space for the other side cannot speak of peace, stability, and development. as in commerce and economic activity where the interests of both parties should be taken into account, in politics and international relations, as well as multilateralism and win-win solutions should be the basis of engagement. mr. president, the united nations was established to sustain global peace and security after two world wars. but, unfortunately, it must be

said that in most cases this important international institution has not been successful or effective. this time, however, the united nations made the right decision. though we protest the adoption of unfair resolutions against the islamic republic of iran, and the imposition of sanctions against the iranian nation and government as a result of misunderstandings and sometimes overt hostilities of some countries, however, we believe as an old iranian saying goes, the sooner you stop harm, the more benefit you will reap. today is the very day that harm is stopped. security council resolution 2231, despite some significant shortcomings, was an important development in the basis for terminating sanctions imposing resolutions against iran.

we consider as unfair the unconduct of the security council in the past and insist that iran, due to the important fatwa of its leader, and its defense doctrine, has never had the intention of producing a nuclear weapon and therefore sanctioned resolutions against iran were unjust and illegal. sanctions by the security council and unilateral sanctions by some countries were based on elusive and baseless allegations and created difficulty conditions for our people. but these sanctions never in any way affected the policy that we adopted and the approach we took

towards negotiations. we proved in these negotiations there is nothing on iran's table other than logic, reason, and ethics and where necessary legitimate and decisive self-defense against any kind of aggression. for which the united states was prompted and forced to set aside and choose that they will have negotiations. we expended time and capital in these negotiations and therefore, they should exert their utmost effort to protect and implement the agreement. we deem the compliance of all parties with their commitment as the fundamental factor in the success of the implementation process of the negotiations.

parallel to the implementation of the plan of action, we also expect nuclear states to take necessary steps to fulfill commitments of full disarmament based on article six of the nonproliferation treaty. furthermore, we expect them to play a positive role in the creation of a nuclear notons-free middle east and to remainhe zionists the only impediment in the way initiative. this mr. president, the nuclear deal, which is a brilliant example of victory over war, has managed to hostilityhe clouds of and perhaps even the specter of another war and tensions.

herald acan and should new era and lead to positive outcomes regarding the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in the region. from our point of view, the agreed-upon deal is not the final objective but a development which can and should .e debated considering the fact that this deal has created an objective basis and set an appropriate model, and conserve as the basis for foundational change in the region. continue our to peace-seeking efforts in the region based on the same win-win principle, and acting in ways that will lead to the world benefiting from these conditions.

this opportunity can be seized in order to look to the future and avoid focusing on the past and rebuild our relationships with countries in the region, particularly with our neighbors based on mutual respect and our common and collective interests. the middle east and north africa has turned into one of the worlds most turbulent regions. with the continuation and intensification of the current conditions, the turmoil can spread to other parts of the world. in today's interconnected and borderless world, countries and regions encounter great difficulty in protecting borders and preventing the spread of insecurity and instability. gravest and most important

threat to the world today is terrorist organizations, to become terrorist states. it unfortunately for national uprisings in our region to be deviated by terrorism and for the destiny of nations to be determined by arms and 10 or. we propose terror. that the fight against terrorism be incorporated into a binding international document and no country be allowed to use terrorism for the purpose of intervention in the affairs of another country. assist in thed to eradication of terrorism and in paving the way for democracy and arms do nott

dictate the course of events in a region. as we aid in the establishment of democracy in iraq and afghanistan, we are prepared to help bring about democracy in .yria, as well as yemen we support the consolidation of power through people rather than arms. we defend the rule of the majority that respects the rights of minorities. safeguardingwhile cultural heritage is looking to the future. not only the distant future but also the near future, with a bright outlook for operation and existence. nations and all governments, that we will not forget the past, but we do not wish to live in the past. we will not forget war and sanctions, but we look to peace

and development. through the joint comprehensive plan of action, we were not solely seeking a nuclear deal. suggest a new, constructive way to re-create the international order. and order based on pitcher will respect, not intervention in the internal affairs of others as on sustained cooperation and coexistence between the members of the united nations. in order to build a peaceful learn, we we must lessons from the past. we know that the only way to perpetuate peace is through development, peace without development is nearly -- merely a recess. however, peace alongside development let's anger and

resentment dissipate and be replaced with hope and respect for others. repeatedly said that the only way to operate terrorism in the middle east is by targeting its underlying social, economic, and cultural causes. economic interaction may bring about security and transform the region into a haven for peace and development. after the joint comprehensive plan of action, iran will show that the practical path to security and stability is through the development that comes with economic engagement. iran, with all of its cultural potential, is well-positioned to become a hub for export-oriented investment. iran is eager to show that we

can all choose lasting peace based on development and shared interest that will lead to a sustainable, rather than volatile peace based on threats. we hope to engage with our neighbors in a wide range of social and economic cooperation which will enable the achievement of political and for even -- evenfoster -- even foster cooperation. president, in 2013, from this stage, i called for combating violence and extremism.

consequently, you the representatives of the international community unanimously gave it a seal of endorsement. the resolution came to be. the implementation of wave requires well-intentioned solutions and the use of experiences gained in the realm of this policy. i amply that by placing together the support for the joint comprehensive plan of action with the invaluable support for plan we may now devise a to resolve the problems of a shattered middle east under the clause of brutality and savagery. fighting ignorance, dictatorship, poverty, terrorism, violence, and social, political, cold troll, economic security impacts, i would like to invite the whole world and especially the countries of my region to form a joint,

comprehensive plan of action to create a united front against extremism and violence. this front must create a collective, global movement to tackle regional problems in a serious manner through dialogue. the slaughter of innocent people and the bombardment of civilians as well as the promotional violence and killing of other human beings , inthe stability cooperation with established essential governments, to maintain stability. established,y is diplomacy and democratic governance in the middle east region. ladies and gentlemen, iraq, syria, and yemen are examples of crises being sold through terror. bloodshed, innovation, and indifference of the international community -- they

displaying examples cases of displaced a homelessness and fleeing from the horrors of war and compartment. of their problems have persisted because the international community has failed them and because of incorrect actions of newcomers to the region and naive trans regional actors. consequently, the wave of destruction has gone beyond the arab world and has reached europe and the united states and has resulted in the destruction of the relics of stability and ancient civilizations and more broadly, has resulted in the death of humanity itself. we must not forget that the roots of today's wars, destruction, and timber can be found in the occupation and military intervention of yesterday.

if we did not have the u.s. military invasion of afghanistan states and the united unwarranted support for the inhumane actions of the zionist regime against the oppressed nation of palestine, the terrorists would not have an excuse for the justification of their crimes. it is urgent for the united states government instead of explaining the truth of the region and throwing about baseless accusations and pursuing other dangerous policies and defense of its regional allies who cultivate toeit, this must be brought an and in its actions must be made compatible with the realities of the region. mr. president, despite the many problems in our region, we believe in a promising future.

we have no doubts we can overcome the obstacles by wisdom and prudence as well as by the use of new and powerful capacities and by relying upon our civilizational rules and our serious resolve, we in light of divine revelation have faith in humanity's future in which people live in peace, tranquility, and spirituality. we believe in the will of nations to take the path of goodness and purity. we believe that ultimate victory will be one by those with good nature and piety. think you all -- thank you all for your attention. old --use]

climate change.

[applause] dear xi jinping: , theagues, 70 years ago earlier generations of my kind thought aerobically secured a victory of the worlds, anti-fascists, thus closing a dark page in the annals of human history. that victory was a hard one. 70 years ago, the earlier generation of my kind had the foresight to establish the united nations. this universal and representative and authoritative international organization has carried my kind's hope for a future and ushered in an era of cooperation. it was a pioneering initiative never undertaken before. 70 years ago, the earlier generation of my kind pulled

wisdom and adopted the charter of the united nations, laying the cornerstones of the contemporary international order and establishing the fundamental principles of contemporary international relations. this was an achievement of profound impact. colleagues,t, dear on the third of september, the chinese people together with the world's people solidly commemorated the 70th anniversary of the victory of chinese represent -- chinese resistance against -- ,s the main theater in the east china made a national sacrifice of over 35 million casualties in its fight against japanese militarism. it not only saved itself and its people from subjugation, but also gave strong support for the forces against aggression in the

pacific theaters. thus making historic contributions to the victories of the world's anti-fascist war. history is a mirror. only by drawing lessons from history can the world avoid repeating past calamity. we should review history with awe and caution. changed, butot be the future can be shaped. mind is notory in to perpetuate hatred, rather, it is for mankind not to forget its lesson. remembering history does not we aim to pass the torch of peace from