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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Following are quotable quotes from the speakers at the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22:
"The world has always managed to mobilize and organize itself when confronted with immense challenges or faced with global threats. The challenge of climate change has led us to put our minds together and to decide to mobilize substantial means." -- Patrice Talon, the president of Benin.
"The current global humanitarian crisis reminds us that we must tackle global issues in an inclusive and integrated manner, focussing on the root causes. It is a children's crisis. We must hear their voice. We must recall that a child is first a child and after that a refugee." -- Rosen Plevneliev, the president of Bulgaria.
"We speak about the fundamental rights of human beings, and in our region this concept is withering day after day under the pressure of wars...pulling back in the face of an ever growing obscurantism hidden under the veil of religion ... and totally dissolving when facing the barbarism of the colonization practiced by the State of Israel which seeks to hide under a modern and democratic cloak." -- Tammam Salam, the president of Lebanon.
"The call for the reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council rings louder in its deafening silence. The equity we promote through our commitments at the United Nations must also be respected in all of its bodies. We urge the nations of the world, the big and powerful nations of the world, to bring this long silence to an end." -- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the president of Liberia.
"The humanitarian situation in Syria simply cannot be tolerated." "It is not just Syria we need to focus on. Conflict and suffering continue elsewhere, and more needs to be done to find common solutions to common challenges." -- Erna Solberg, the prime minister of Norway.
