The following is a brief extract from Prime Minister Harper’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City last evening:

That’s why Canada has always been ready and willing to join with other civilized peoples and to challenge affronts to the international order, affronts to human dignity itself, such as are today present in Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine, in the Middle East, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and of course many parts of Africa. Canada’s positions on these issues are well known, and we will continue to contribute to the extent to which we are able in assisting our friends and allies in the international community to deal with these grave challenges. But while these extreme situations are being confronted, other problems, pandemics, climate change, and of course the problems of underdevelopment remain.

The complete address, in which he also said:

“As indicated by my colleague from Senegal, President Macky Sall, aid is needed for development but what is needed even more is investment. He is quite right. Yet, no matter how freely we trade, millions of people will for some time to come need a helping hand.”

can be found at http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/09/25/pm-addresses-united-nations-general-assembly-new-york-city#sthash.84rakV6X.dpuf