In his address to the 64th U.N. General Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad harshly criticized the Western capitalist and liberal worldview, which, he said, was based on materialism, spreads inequality, oppression, and poverty, and is the source of wars and injustice in the world. He claimed that this worldview had caused humanity to distance itself from the rival worldview of divine values and morality, which is based on belief in God and which advances equality, justice and brotherhood.
Stating that international politics and the global economy are controlled by the Jews, he added that the Jews are manipulating the countries of the West to achieve their racist goals: "It is no longer acceptable for an absolute minority [i.e., the Jews] to use a complex network designed in the most cruel manner, in order to dominate the economic, political and cultural segments of a large part of the world, institute a new system of slavery, and sacrifice the honor of nations, including the European and American people, in its quest to satisfy its racist avarice."
The U.S. empire with its capitalist worldview, he said, has reached the end of the road; therefore he was calling for comprehensive political, economic, and cultural reform in the world order - to be carried out with Iran's help - in order to restore belief in God as well as morality and justice.
He stressed that the Mahdi - the Shi'ite Messiah - will arrive soon, accompanied by Jesus, to deliver humanity.
He also noted that Israel was perpetrating "genocide" against the Palestinians; at this point, the representatives of 10 Western delegations, among them the U.S., France, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, walked out.
It is notable that in this year's address, unlike last year's, Ahmadinejad made no mention of Iran's nuclear program and did not deny the Holocaust.
The following are excerpts from the official English translation of Ahmadinejad's address, posted September 25, 2009 on the official website of the Iranian presidency. [1]
"The Adverse, One-Sided Conditions Currently Prevailing [in the World]... Are in Direct Contradiction with the Objective of the Creation of Humanity and the World"
"Today... I would like to bring to your attention some points regarding the dimensions of the changes and transformations that need to take place [in the world].
"First Point: Clearly, it is not viable to continue having the status quo [that is currently] dominating the world. The adverse, one-sided conditions currently [prevailing] defy [the] human spirit and are in direct contradiction with the objective of the creation of humanity and the world.
"The production of fake currencies, [the] injection of the equivalent of tens of thousands of [forged] dollars into the world’s economy, and [the] creation of serious budget shortages, as well as the transfer of inflation and other economic woes to other countries and the transportation of the wealth of others to the economies of certain special governments - [all these are] no longer effective.
"The economic apparatus of an unrestrained capitalist system, with its unjust arrangements, has reached its end and is no longer functioning. This one-sided equation no longer holds. The age of imposing the opinion of cold capitalism, of forcing the style and tendencies of a particular group on the rest of the world, of expanding global domination in the name of building the world, and of establishing empires has ended...
"No longer can a group of people define democracy and freedom in their preferred terms and consider themselves the standard [by which these ideals are defined]. They can no longer pose as judge and executioner when they have shortcomings themselves and fight governments that truly adhere to the principles of democracy..."
"It Is No Longer Acceptable For an Absolute Minority [i.e. the Jews] to Use a Complex Network... [to] Institute a New System of Slavery... In Its Quest to Satisfy Its Racist Avarice"
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"Who would have thought that it would be possible to continue imposing inhumane policies in Palestine [for so long]? The fact that a nation is forced out of its home at gunpoint for more than 60 years, against all human values; is subject to attack by all sorts of inhumane means, including rockets and even outlawed weapons; and is deprived of the right to defend its legitimate rights (is incomprehensible). What is [even] more amazing is that they call the invaders and occupiers 'peace loving' and 'righteous,' and the oppressed people 'terrorist,' before the eyes of a stunned world.
"How is it possible that the crimes of a group of invaders against defenseless women and children, and the destruction of homes, farms, schools and hospitals, receive the full and unconditional support of certain governments, while innocent men and women are subjected to the most severe siege and to a food, water and medicine blockade, and become the victims of genocide? Even the reconstruction of their homes which were destroyed during the violent 22-day invasion by the Zionists is prevented in the midst of a cold winter. At the same time the aggressors and their supporters are chanting slogans of human rights while subjecting other countries to pressure under this pretext.
"It is no longer acceptable for an absolute minority [i.e. the Jews] to use a complex network designed in the most cruel manner in order to dominate a large part of the world economically, politically and culturally, [and in order to] institute a new system of slavery and sacrifice the honor of nations, including [the] European and American people, in its quest to satisfy its racist avarice.
"It is not acceptable that a group invades the Middle East from several thousand kilometers away, brings death, war, terror, threats and invasion to the region, ignoring the sensitivity of [its] people... and remains apathetic towards their calls against [this] injustice and invasion, labeling their support of their innocent co-religionist as 'resistance to peace and interference in the affairs of others.' See the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan...
"The rhetoric of friendship and assistance to other nations can no longer be used while military bases are being expanded in all parts of the world, including in Latin America...
"It is not acceptable that the military expenditures of some countries are several times higher than the total military budget of the rest of the world. It is not acceptable that each year, hundreds of millions of dollars [worth] of weapons are exported; chemical, biological and nuclear weapons are stockpiled; and military bases are established in different parts of the globe - and at the same time other countries are accused of warmongering and prevented from [making] scientific progress. Meanwhile global resources are plundered using the false rhetoric of controlling the proliferation of weapons.
"It is not acceptable that the United Nations and the Security Council, which are supposed to represent all nations... are dominated by a few countries and serve their [own] interests and wishes..."
"Liberal Thought and Domineering Capitalism... Bring About War, Poverty and Deprivation"
"Second Point:...Liberal thought and domineering capitalism separate humankind from [its] ethics and [from the] heavenly realms, and not only fail to bring happiness and bliss to humanity but are the cause of wretchedness and bring about war, poverty and deprivation... [The] political and economic structures established after the Second World War, which were devised according to the intentions of those who wanted to dominate the world, have not succeeded in implementing justice or lasting security...
"By the grace of God, just as Marxism joined the annals of history, expansionist Capitalism will also become a part of the past. Because according to the Divine tradition mentioned in the Revered Quran as a fundamental principle, falsehood is cast aside like the foam on the surface of the sea, and that which serves mankind will endure. Everyone must beware that colonialist goals, which are discriminatory and inhuman, [cannot be] pursued under the guise of new rhetoric and with a fresh packaging...
"Third Point: The underlying and lesser known cause of all global problems is that a group of world leaders have deviated from the path of ethics, human values, and the teachings of the prophets of God...
"Monotheism has given way to selfishness and some have positioned themselves in the place of God, and insist on imposing their viewpoints and wishes on the rest of the world... Today, we need to rise with a collective commitment against the status quo. We need to take change and transformation seriously, and through general cooperation and struggle we must all try to return to [our] ethical, human and innate values.
"[The] Godly prophets and the righteous came to shed light on the true nature of humanity and on the personal and public responsibilities of human beings... [The ideal of] encouraging the service of others instead of dominating them has been at the forefront of the teachings of [the] Godly messengers from Adam to Noah, and from Noah to Abraham, Moses, Jesus and [the Prophet] Mohammad (May the Peace and Blessings of God be Upon Him)..."
The U.N. Must Be Transformed "into an Updated, Popular Institution that Is Impartial, Free, Just, and Effective in Global Relations"
"Fourth Point: In my opinion, several important agendas are before us, which can be a guide for the Secretary General and the General Assembly of the United Nations in planning their actions and initiating their course.
"1. Improving the structure of the United Nations and transforming it into an updated, popular institution that is impartial, free, just, and effective in global relations; improving the structure of the Security Council and abolishing the discriminatory advantage of the special power of veto; immediately ensuring the complete fulfillment of Palestinian rights by holding free referendums and preparing the grounds for the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews of Palestine; ending interferences in the affairs of Iraq and Afghanistan, of the Middle East, African nations, Latin America, Asia and Europe...
"The oppression and violation of the rights of people in Palestine, such as the continuous displacement of yet another group among the true owners of Palestinian lands, [namely those] residing in Jerusalem; the destruction of homes by the occupiers of Quds; the aerial bombardment of Afghanistan and Pakistan; the abuse in Guantanamo, which is unfortunately still open, and in the secret prisons of Europe - [all] still continue to this day. The continuation of the present circumstances will intensify disappointments and lead to violence.
"Oppression and invasion must be halted. Unfortunately, no complete and official report on the conducts of the Zionist regime in Gaza has been issued. The honorable Secretary General and the United Nations have a great burden of responsibility on their shoulders regarding this matter, which must be pursued. The world community is impatiently waiting for the just punishment of those who invaded Gaza and of the murderers of its defenseless people.
"2. Improving economic structures and the establishment of ethical and humane economic relations in the world...
"3. Improving international political relations; establishing relations based on lasting peace and friendship; ending the destructive arms race and political competitions; nuclear, chemical and biological disarmament; and preparing the grounds for the general utilization of advanced peaceful technologies for the betterment of humanity.
"4. Improving cultural structures, respecting indigenous habits and customs, promoting ethics and morality, and strengthening the warm, lasting and prosperous institution of the family as the building block of a prosperous society.
"5. Public commitment to the preservation of the environment and adhering to global rules and regulations in order to prevent the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources."
"...The Great Nation of Iran... Is Ready... to Devise a Fair Plan... to End All Concerns and Challenges of Human Society"
"Fifth Point:... I announce that the great nation of Iran, which is the builder of human civilization and of the Islamic Republic as one of the most popular and progressive governments of the world, is ready to utilize every available cultural, political and economic capability [at its disposal] to devise a fair plan that is respectful to all and is based on humanitarian solutions to end all concerns and challenges [facing] human society...
"We welcome true, humane transformation and are ready for active cooperation in implementing structural global improvements. Therefore we must stress that the only path to salvation is a return to monotheism and justice... Without resistance and protest, injustices will not be eliminated from the world..."
The Day Will Come When the Mahdi Appears alongside Jesus
"Final Point: The day will come that justice will become all-encompassing and global, and every individual will be honored and revered... All this can be attained when humanity reaches its zenith and the [when] last Divine resource, a [descendent] of the beloved prophet of Islam, the Imam Mahdi (peace be upon him) appears alongside Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him), and all other righteous people who will assist him in this great global endeavor.
"This is the very idea of awaiting a savior, and awaiting the government of the good and the righteous, which is the hope of all people for the betterment of the world..."
Endnote:
[1] Website of the Presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran website (Iran), September 25, 2009. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
