Egypt’s New President Debuts At UN

Egypt’s new President Mohammed Morsi debuted at the United Nations yesterday with a speech that will be closely watched by world leaders for clues about his democratic intentions and plans for lifting his country out of crippling poverty. Morsi, an Islamist and key figure in the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood, is the first democratically-elected leader of the ancient land at the heart of the Arab world. He was sworn in June 30.

Another Arab leader making his first appearance at the UN General Assembly’s annual ministerial meeting after being swept into power by the Arab Spring revolutions was Yemen’s President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. He took office in February after more than a year of political turmoil and is now trying to steer his country’s democratic transition. Hadi called on the UN to grant membership to Palestine and support a transfer of power in Syria.

“The only option for our brothers in Syria is to agree on an initiative for peaceful change and transfer of power through ballot boxes,” he said. Morsi previewed his General Assembly remarks in a speech delivered on Tuesday at former President Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative. Addressing the violence that raged across the Muslim world in response to a video produced in the US that denigrated Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, the Egyptian leader said freedom of expression must come with “responsibility.”

He appeared to have been responding to President Barack Obama’s General Assembly speech earlier Tuesday in which the US leader again condemned the video but sternly defended the US Constitution’s guarantees of free speech. At least 51 people were killed in violence that erupted last week in Muslim countries, including the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans targeted in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

Morsi did not explain what limitations he felt should be placed on free speech but said the video and the violent reaction to it demanded “reflection.” He said freedom of expression must be linked with responsibility, “especially when it comes with serious implications for international peace and stability.”

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, known for past fiery denunciations of the United States and Israel, will be making his last speech at the world body as he finishes a second and final term as president. Ahmadinejad took aim at both the US and Israel while addressing a high-level UN meeting promoting the rule of law Monday, accusing Washington of shielding what he called a nuclear-armed “fake regime.” His remarks prompted a walkout by Israel’s UN Ambassador Ron Prosor.