Sept. 25 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush challenged the United Nations to return to its founding principles and take the lead in opposing repressive regimes and championing the cause of human rights and freedom around the world.

The declaration of universal rights at the heart of the UN's mission ``is not being upheld,'' Bush said today in his annual address to the 192 member states of the General Assembly. ``We're not doing our duty in the world.''

The president focused on Myanmar, announcing new sanctions against the military regime that he said has imposed a ``19-year reign of fear'' and urging all member states to use diplomatic and economic pressure to bring about democratic change there. ``Americans are outraged by the situation,'' Bush said.

He also urged UN members to support the fledgling democracies in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan and help moderate Palestinian leaders take the steps necessary toward establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Oppressive regimes elsewhere must be confronted, he said. ``Every civilized nation also has a responsibility to stand up for the people suffering under dictatorship,'' Bush said, citing Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Iran.

The president gave glancing mention to Iraq and Iran, two nations that have been at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy during Bush's time in office.

Allies and Iran

The subject of Iran was taken up by two U.S. allies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for putting greater pressure on the regime in Tehran to halt its nuclear program.

``We're ready to demand further sanctions if the behavior doesn't change,'' Merkel told reporters before her speech at the General Assembly. In his remarks, Sarkozy said the international community must not show weakness in the face of Iranian efforts.

``This crisis will be solved only if firmness and dialogue come in parallel,'' Sarkozy said.

In Bush's address, he called on UN members to uphold its mission of fighting poverty, disease and oppression.

``The nations in this chamber have our differences, yet there are some areas where we can all agree,'' Bush said. ``When innocent people are trapped in a life of murder and fear, the declaration is not being upheld. When millions of children starve to death or perish from a mosquito bite, we aren't doing our duty in the world. When whole societies are cut off from the prosperity of the global economy, we're all worse off.''

Support for Protests

Bush offered his support to the Buddhist monks who are leading the protests in Myanmar, which is led by a military council that changed the country's name from Burma. The nation has been under international sanctions since 1990 when the army rejected the results of elections won by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy.

Bush said the U.S. is tightening economic sanctions on the leaders of the Myanmar regime ``and their financial backers,'' and will impose an expanded visa ban ``on those most responsible for the egregious violations of human rights, as well as family members.''

All nations, he said, should help the Burmese people ``reclaim their freedom.''

In the Western Hemisphere, Bush called on Cuba to prepare for a period of transition leading to ``free and competitive elections,'' and he urged the UN to help ensure free speech and assembly.

Cuba in Transition

``In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its end,'' Bush said, referring to Fidel Castro. ``The Cuban people are ready for their freedom.''

Bush also chided the UN for being ``silent on repression'' in regimes ranging from Caracas to Tehran, ``while focusing its criticism excessively in Israel.''

To be credible, Bush said, ``The United Nations must reform its own human rights council.''

He called on the UN to rededicate itself to fight HIV-AIDS and malaria and extend education and health programs, endeavors that help ``weaken the appeal of violent ideologies.''

One way to spread freedom and prosperity is open trade, Bush said. The U.S. has ``the will and the flexibility'' to negotiate an agreement in world trade talks known as the Doha round. He said he is confident an accord can be achieved.

Trade and Prosperity

``In the long run, the best way to lift people out of poverty is through trade and investment,'' Bush said. ``Open markets ignite growth'' and ``help countries help themselves.''

He urged the U.S. Congress to approve recently negotiated trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

Bush also offered a new initiative for food aid, proposing that the U.S. would buy crops of local farmers in Africa and elsewhere to distribute, rather than shipping food from developed countries.

That drew praise from Dumisani Kumalo, South Africa's ambassador to the UN, who called Bush's speech ``a good one.''

``That is interesting, new stuff, a good idea because some countries can supply the food, and it will help their economies,'' Kumalo said.

The U.S. will back an expansion of the Security Council, and Bush said Japan is ``well qualified'' to become a permanent member, along with the U.S., U.K., France, China and Russia. ``Other nations should be considered, as well,'' he said.

Bush gave only a passing reference to climate change, an issue that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has put atop his agenda. The president said he appreciated the talks on global warming that he took part in last night and a session he is convening in Washington later this week.

To contact the reporter on this story: Hans Nichols at the United Nations at hnichols2@bloomberg.net; Kim Chipman in New York at kchipman@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: September 25, 2007 13:47 EDT