Bush was one of 20 heads of state to address the UN today. The proceedings began with a speech by UN Secretary General Kofi A. Annan. During the morning's proceedings, the theme of terrorism ran through all the addresses. The heads of state pledged their support in combatting the threat that has now engulfed the world.

While addressing the General Assembly for the first time, Bush thanked member countries of the UN for their support and sympathy following the September 11 attack on America. "The memorials and vigils around the world will not be forgotten. But the time for sympathy has now passed; the time for action has now arrived," said Bush.

He spoke of the newly adopted Resolution 1373 that requires every UN member country to crack down on terrorism funding. The Resolution was adopted by the Security Council on September 28. In addition to this Bush appealed to other member states to pass legislation "to allow the confiscation of terrorist assets.

Bush reassured members that the US will help rebuild Afghanistan following the armed conflict. He pledged support to the UN and development banks in reconstructing the war-torn country when the time came.

He went on to say that the war is against the Taliban, not the Afghani people and America is committed to giving relief aid to the people. Bush said the they can no longer hide behind Islam. He told the delegates that the Taliban, in addition to organizations that harbor terrorists will be brought to justice.

"I make this promise to all the victims of the [Taliban] regime: The Taliban's days of harboring terrorists and dealing in heroin and brutalizing women are drawing to a close. And when the regime is gone, the people of Afghanistan will say with the rest of the world: good riddance," he said.

Bush acknowledged that the terrorists threats were not over. "As we meet, the terrorists are planning more murder-- perhaps in my country or perhaps in yours," he said.

He also reaffirmed the US government's commitment to restoring peace in the Middle East. "We are working toward the day when the two states of Israel and Palestine, live peacefully together with secure and recognized borders, as called for by the Security Council resolutions," he said. However, he went on to state that this will not happen until "all have sworn off, forever, incitement, violence and terror."

Secretary General Annan echoed Bush's sentiments in condemning terrorism. He too pledged the UN commitment to help the people of Afghanistan. "The United Nations has also been straining every nerve to bring relief to the suffering people of Afghanistan, and to help them reach an agreement on a broad-based government," he said.

Annan reiterated that none of the issues that were on the table before September 11 have become less urgent. The number of people living under the poverty line has not decreased; life threatening diseases have not been tamed; the environment is still at risk and war still claims the lives of many innocent people, he said.

He said members should aim for a future with a global community. "That is why the current meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) [in Doha, Qatar] is so important. Never was agreement among rich and poor on the rules of the international trading system so vitally needed," Annan explained.

He also spoke of the importance of sustainability, saying it belongs in the "center of the policy-making process."

Annan informed the members that the UN body itself had improved since he started his first term as Secretary General. Financially its situation has improved due to the full payment of dues by many member states.

He ended his address by calling upon the international community to unite to fight poverty, disease and environmental degradation. "Let us resolve that only the best is good enough," he concluded.

The General Assembly will be meeting throughout the course of the week. It will hear from heads of states and foreign ministers of member countries.