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President Vladimir Putin addressed the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly

September 25, 2003, Un Headquarters, New York City

The United Nations was duty bound to become the basis of a global anti-terrorist coalition, Mr Putin said from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly. He added with regret that the warning he had made to the Millennium Summit in 2000 on terrorism as the enemy of the entire United Nations had been shrugged off.

Mr Putin stressed the role of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council. The committee was to become a practical tool of the fight against the terrorist threat, he said.

The President also spoke about the United Nations’ humanitarian and environmental activities, and stressed that Russia regarded the tackling of related problems as the United Nations’ essential political goal, and that Russia’s contribution to its attainment would increase.

He proposed to establish a global system of monitoring and neutralising dangerous infectious diseases.

Mr Putin called to carry on efforts to universalise the available non-proliferation regimes of weapons of mass destruction, to strengthen international inspection institutions, and introduce safe technologies in the nuclear industry and power plants.

Russia also deemed it essential to avoid the militarisation of space, called to draft a comprehensive agreement on the problem, and appealed to countries possessing a space potential to join its initiative.

He also spoke about enhancing the effectiveness of the UN Security Council. As Mr Putin saw it, the scope of persisting differences and the interests of Security Council efficiency demanded extremely circumspect stage-by-stage work. The United Nations must retain its central role in the world affairs. Such was Russia’s choice and strategic stance, the President stressed.

Mr Putin spoke for 20 minutes.

September 25, 2003, Un Headquarters, New York City