United Nation: World leaders gathered on Saturday for the fourth day of the annual ministerial meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to address the state of their countries and the world. Here are highlights from some of the newsworthy speakers:
Central African Republic
The president of the transitional government in conflict-torn Central African Republic said the country has great hopes the new U.N. peacekeeping mission will help restore security and promote development. Catherine Samba-Panza said the success of the U.N. force will hinge on the involvement of the country's security and defense forces at its side. Months of fighting between a mostly Muslim rebel coalition and a Christian militia have left at least 5,000 people dead. Samba-Panza said that after a July 23 cease-fire agreement it is time to bring all parties together to consider “a new republic and pact to recast the Central African state.”
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he's serious about holding peace talks with Pakistan but also criticized the neighboring country, insisting it must create an “appropriate atmosphere” for the dialogue. In his first U.N. address since taking power in May, Modi said that dialogue needs to take place “without the shadow of terrorism.” Modi invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his inauguration, but India in August withdrew from planned talks between their foreign secretaries as Pakistan wanted to consult first with separatists in the disputed region of Kashmir. In his U.N. address Friday, Nawaz criticized India's withdrawal from the talks, saying the world saw it as a “missed opportunity.” India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir since independence in 1947. India accuses Pakistan of assisting militants that fight against Indian security forces.
Libya
Libya pleaded with the international community to help it stand up to Islamist-allied militias that have taken control of government buildings, saying the U.N. must impose sanctions or risk a terrorist expansion throughout North Africa. Ageila Saleh Eissa, president of the House of Representatives, spoke after weeks of fighting among rival militias in Libya forced nearly a quarter-million people to flee their homes. “The international community has either to stand with the elected, legitimate authorities and (impose sanctions) or say very clearly that the Libyans have to face terrorism alone,” Eissa said. Libya has been witnessing the worst violence since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The latest violence has left Libya with two governments and two parliaments.
