Cameron urges UN over Arab Spring

22 September 2011 Last updated at 14:31 ET

The Arab Spring is a massive opportunity to spread peace and prosperity, Mr Cameron told the UN

The international community must “seize” the “massive opportunity” of the spread of democracy in the Arab Spring, David Cameron has told the UN.

In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the UK PM urged the UN to be “united in action”.

“To fail to act is to fail those who need our help,” he told world leaders, saying the UN needed a “new way of working”.

Mr Cameron has had talks with President Barack Obama during his US visit.

In his address, Mr Cameron said: “My argument today is that Libya and the Arab Spring shows the UN needs a new way of working.

“Because the Arab Spring is a massive opportunity to spread peace, prosperity, democracy and vitally security, but only if we really seize it.”

He said: “It’s a call to make sure that as well as signing declarations and resolutions we actually show political will and get things done.

“I think this is the lesson of Libya: yes, we had the UN backing, but countries were prepared to come together and act and, as a result, we see a country that’s moving towards freedom.”

As he met Mr Obama at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York earlier, Mr Cameron said that Libya was moving to a “good conclusion” after the ousting of Col Gaddafi.

He added that the UK and US were working closely together on Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process, and said the transatlantic relationship was as “strong as it’s ever been”.

The US president called it an “extraordinarily special relationship”, adding: “I am very fortunate that over the last year or two David and I have been able to, I think, establish an excellent friendship as well.”

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