Your lives and the credibility of the United
Nations is at stake. Many brave men and women have made the commitment to
peace.
Every nation that travels the road to freedom moves
at a different pace, and the democracies they build will reflect their own culture
and traditions. You can be proud of these achievements.
Kuwait held elections in which women were allowed
to vote and run for office for the first time.
We know that when leaders are accountable to their
people, they are more likely to seek national greatness in the achievements of their
citizens, rather than in terror and conquest.
Abandon terror, recognize Israel's right to exist,
honor agreements, and work for peace.
From Beirut to Baghdad, people are making the
choice for freedom.
Yet your suffering continues. In it, they said
this: "The shore of reform is the only one on which any lights appear, even though
the journey demands courage and patience and perseverance. This is, I think, a very
interesting event around a partnership to promote wildlife conservation around the
world by better enforcing laws against trafficking.
This year we expect a particular focus on events in
the Middle East on Darfur and on President Bush's democracy agenda. At that meeting,
they will commit all of our governments to take steps to end the
violence.
The words of the Universal Declaration are as true
today as they were when they were written.
We see your suffering, and the world is helping you
to rebuild your country, and helping you deal with the armed extremists who are
undermining your democracy by acting as a state within a state. I hear from leaders
in the region who want to help.
Working together, we will help your democracy
succeed, so it can become a beacon of hope for millions in the Muslim
world.
Al Qaeda and those inspired by its extremist
ideology have attacked more than two dozen nations.
And the world has sent a clear message to the
leaders of Hamas: Serve the interests of the Palestinian people.
We welcome his initiative. I believe peace can be
achieved, and that a democratic Palestinian state is possible.
The Palestinian people have suffered from decades
of corruption and violence and the daily humiliation of occupation.