26 September, 2007 - Published 12:21 GMT

UN 'should be equal' on HR

Actions by the international community against human rights violations should be equal to all nations, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Addressing the 62 session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr. Rajapaksa urged the world body not to use human rights as a tool to 'victimise countries'.

President's address - Video

"It is essential that international action to facilitate compliance with human rights standards is fair and even handed. Human rights have to be protected and advanced for their own sake, not for political gain," he said.

Threat of terrorism

Many countries including Sri Lanka are currently being threatened, President Rajapaksa said, by terrorism and "other illegal activities".

"Terrorism anywhere is terrorism. There is nothing good in terrorism. We think that the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which in our view remains a priority, is only limited to endless discussion" the President added.

Addressing the UNGA in Sinhala he emphasised that his government is committed to find a negotiated settlement to the national question.

Political solution

The military action against the Tamil Tigers, Rajapaksa said, is only aimed at 'exerting pressure' for the LTTE to come back to the negotiating table.

"Our goal remains a negotiated and honourable end to this unfortunate conflict," Rajapaksa insisted.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also questioned whether the world body has been effective in combating many challenges in the 21 century.

"Although the UN system has set up mechanisms to deal with many of these problems, the capacity of the UN to address these challenges effectively has been brought into question".