September 26, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 13, 1428

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25: Foreign Minister of Cuba Felipe Perez Roque on Tuesday walked out of the UN General Assembly when US President George Bush in his remarks criticised the Island nation.

Mr Bush in his speech said: “In Cuba the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end.

“The Cuban people are ready for their freedom. And as that nation enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free speech, free assembly and, ultimately, free and competitive elections.”

The Cuban delegation later said foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque’s move was a “sign of profound rejection of the arrogant and mediocre statement” by Mr Bush.

In his speech, Mr Bush also expressed the United States’ support for the highly contentious issue of expanding the 15 member UN Security Council, the world body’s most powerful organ. He suggested that Japan is “well-qualified” to be an additional member and said “other nations should be considered as well”.

The council has 10 rotating members elected for two-year terms and five permanent members with veto power — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

Mr Bush said the United States would listen to all “good ideas.” He singled out Myanmar for particular attention.

“Basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship are severely restricted,” he said. “Ethnic minorities are persecuted. Forced child labour, human trafficking and rape are common. The regime is holding more than a thousand political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was elected overwhelmingly by the Burmese people in 1990.

“The ruling junta remains unyielding, yet the people’s desire for freedom is unmistakable,” he said.

Bush said the United States would tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers and impose an expanded visa ban on people responsible for human rights violations, as well as their family members.