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CNN Live Sunday

U.S.-Led War on Terrorism Dominates U.N. Agenda

Aired November 11, 2001 - 18:09   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The Middle East was one of the issues of concern during the second day of the United Nations General Assembly. But not surprisingly, it is the U.S.-led war on terrorism and the airstrikes against Afghanistan that have been the focus of the meeting.

CNN's Brian Palmer now has a wrap of the day's events.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As President George Bush and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan honored the dead at ground zero, men and women from 80 nations, the annual meeting of world leaders convened a few miles north at the United Nations.

They called the seven days of addresses general debate, but they're actually a series of lectures given by heads of state and ministers on topics of their choosing. President George Bush devoted his address on opening day of the General Assembly to the war against al Qaeda.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For every regime that sponsors terror, there is a price to be paid. And it will be paid.

PALMER: Other members of the powerful Security Council focused on the challenge of building a post-war Afghanistan.

JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER: There must be no more great games with Afghan people, the pawns. No more regional rivalries with Afghan people the victims.

PALMER: Many speakers referred to the question of a Palestinian state, including the president of the Palestinian Authority.

YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: The establishment of a Palestinian state with holy Jerusalem as its capital, is the only guarantee for security, peace, and stability in the region and the world.

PALMER: Israel, who's capital is the holy city of Jerusalem, gets an opportunity respond later in the week. Uganda's President deviated from the careful and predictable language of diplomacy, urging members to differentiate between terrorists and freedom fighters like Nelson Mandela.

YOWERI MUSEVENI, PRESIDENT, UGANDA: Mr. Mandela was a freedom fighter. He was not a terrorist. The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter lies in the fact that while if we don't -- a freedom fighter sometimes may be forced to use violence, he cannot use indiscriminate violence.

Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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