President Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were among world leaders to address the opening of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. In his last General Assembly speech as US president, Bush continued on his White House theme of casting the UN as an irrelevant institution.

President Bush: “The United Nations is an organization of extraordinary potential. As the United Nations rebuilds its headquarters, it must also open the door to a new age of transparency, accountability and seriousness of purpose. With determination and clear purpose, the United Nations can be a powerful force for good as we head into the twenty-first century. It can affirm the great promise of its founding.”

Later in the day, Ahmadinejad took the podium. He said Iran is open to dialogue but would defend itself against any attacks. In a veiled reference to Israel and the United States, Ahmadinejad also called for the disarmament of major nuclear powers.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “The Iranian nation is for dialogue. But it has not accepted and will not accept illegal demands. The time has come for the IAEA to present a clear report to the international community on its monitoring of the disarmament of these nuclear powers and their nuclear activities.”

In a reference to Israel and its supporters, Ahmadinejad made several mentions of “Zionists” throughout his speech. He warned both Israel and the United States are in danger of collapse.

Ahmadinejad: “Today the Zionist regime is on a definite slope to collapse, and there is no way for it to get out of the cesspool created by itself and its supporters. American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road, and its next rulers must limit their interference to their own borders. Today, the thought of hegemony quickly becomes a demerit.”