Leaders speak at UN

World leaders gathered on Saturday for the annual ministerial meeting of the UN General Assembly to address the state of their countries and the world. Here are highlights of some of the speakers:

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he's serious about holding peace talks with Pakistan, but he also criticized his neighbor, insisting that Pakistan must create an "appropriate atmosphere" for dialogue. In his first UN address since taking power in May, Modi said dialogue needs to take place "without the shadow of terrorism".

DPRK

Ri Su-yong, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, said Pyongyang is willing to cooperate with the UN on human rights.

Thailand

Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn defended the political takeover of the country by its military and said it won't "go against the tide of democracy".

AP

(China Daily 09/29/2014 page12)