Joe Biden today delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly as President of the United Statesduring his speech at the 79th session. Before taking stock of Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon – but also of his farewell to the race for the White House – Biden was greeted with applause: “Today is my fourth speech here, and it’s my last,” he said.
“Free Ukraine, Putin has failed and NATO is stronger”
“We cannot get tired, we cannot look away and we will not stop supporting Ukraine,” the US president assured. “The good news is that Putin’s war has failed in its main objective. He decided to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine remains free, he decided to weaken NATO, but NATO is stronger, bigger and more united than ever,” Biden added.
“Gaza and Lebanon, total war in no one’s interest. Possible diplomatic solution”
“Now is the time for the parties to finalize the terms (of the agreement, ed.) – to bring the hostages home, to ensure the security of Israel and Gaza, freeing it from Hamas control, to alleviate the suffering in Gaza and to end this war,” the president said on the ongoing conflict.
And again: “We are determined to prevent a wider war that could engulf the entire region. Hezbollah, unprovoked, began firing rockets into Israel after the October 7 attack. Nearly a year later, too many people on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border remain displaced. A full-scale war is in no one’s interest.”
“Even though the situation has worsened, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only way to ensure lasting security and to allow the people of both countries to return to their homes at the border safely. That is what we are working tirelessly for,” the American president continued.
“Prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons”
“We must prevent Iran from operating through its proxies and ensure that it never acquires nuclear weapons,” Biden said at the UN General Assembly.
“It hides risks, it must be managed”
For Biden, “AI will change the ways we live, the ways we work, the ways we wage war” and “could improve our lives.” “But AI also brings great risks, from deep fakes to disinformation to new pathogens to biological weapons,” Biden added, according to whom “what we have to do is manage this new technology,” stressing that “there is nothing certain about how AI will evolve.”
“Stop my run for the White House? Some things are more important than power”
“Some things are more important than staying in power,” President Biden then said, referring to his decision to abandon his campaign for re-election to the White House in the closing part of his final speech to the General Assembly.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve as president,” Biden said, adding that “there is still much I want to do.” He added: “As much as I love my job, I love my country more, and I have decided, after 50 years of public service, that it is time for a new generation of leaders to lead my nation.”
“Dear leaders, let us never forget that some things are more important than staying in power. It is your people who matter most,” he concluded. “Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around. That is the soul of democracy.”
“US supports UN Security Council reform”
“We support the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council,” the US president then indicated. “It is time to move forward,” Biden continued, hoping that the main body of the United Nations “will return to mediating for peace” thanks also to “new voices and perspectives”.
“We are stronger than we think. We are stronger together than alone” and “what people call impossible is just an illusion”, continued the US number one.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done,” Biden then said in conclusion of his speech, quoting the former South African leader and symbol of the fight against apartheid, Nelson Mandela.
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