Castro Takes Center Stage at U.N. Summit

N E W  Y O R K, Sept. 6, 2000 -- Some world leaders are not above making light of themselves.

Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, known for his marathon speeches, took to the U.N. Assembly Hall podium decked out in a dapper dark blue suit — a change from his usual combat fatigues. Staring up at him was a yellow light that warns speakers when their five-minute limit is approaching.

Castro pulled out a white handkerchief and covered the light, and the audience of kings, presidents and prime ministers burst into laughter.

But as he did at the U.N. 50th anniversary celebration five years ago, Castro stuck to the five-minute limit.

Attacking the Rich

And while he started out on a light note of self-mockery, his speech was full of his characteristic fire and fury. Without mentioning the United States by name, Castro told the U.N. Millennium Summit that the principle of sovereignty could not be sacrificed “to an abusive and unfair order that a hegemonic superpower” uses “to try to decide everything by itself.”

Castro, viewed by many developing countries as their premiere spokesman, said rich nations use their power “to make us poorer, more exploited and more dependent.”

At a lunch in the U.N. Delegates Lounge, which President Clinton also attended, Castro embraced South African President Thabo Mbeki, among others. “I don’t know where they’re taking me,” he joked in Spanish as he was led to his seat.

The summit, which continues until Friday, is an attempt by world leaders to chart the course of the United Nations in the 21st century — particularly its efforts to forge peace.

Rogue States

President Clinton is hosting a gala banquet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for world leaders attending the summit, but it was unclear if Castro had been invited.

“I think that he’s not invited,” said White House spokesman Joe Lockhart.

By contrast, North Korea — which pulled its delegation in protest after it was searched by U.S. security at Frankfurt airport — said its representatives were invited.

North Korea, which like Havana is not recognized by the United States, condemned Washington as “a typical state of rogues.”

Sad Start

Earlier Wednesday, President Clinton asked the summit to remember three U.N. workers — including an American — killed in West Timor rioting.

“Increasingly, the United Nations has been called into situations where brave people seek reconciliation but where the enemies seek to undermine it,” Clinton said, citing U.N. peacekeeping operations in East Timor and Sierra Leone.

“But in both cases, the U.N. did not have the tools to finish the job. We must provide those tools, with peacekeepers who can be rapidly deployed with the right training and equipment, missions well-defined and well-led, with the necessary civilian police,” Clinton said.

He specifically called on the Indonesian authorities “to put a stop to these abuses.” Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid was in the audience.

The world body observed a minute of silence for the slain workers.

‘Huge’ Problems

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the leaders the killings were a “somber” reminder of the dangers U.N. staff face every day.

Even before rioters overwhelmed the U.N. refugee agency in the Indonesian-controlled territory, there were no illusions that the three-day summit in New York would in itself change the world and cure it of its ills.

“The problems seem huge,” Annan said, listing poverty, the AIDS epidemic, wars and environmental degradation. “But in today’s world, given the technology and the resources around, we have the means to tackle them. If we have the will, we can deal with them.”

Putin Calls for Halt in Arms Race

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to host an international conference next year on preventing the militarization of space.

Putin, who has frequently spoken against U.S. proposals to develop new missile systems, told more than 150 leaders gathered at the U.N. Millennium Summit that proposals to use space for military purposes were “particularly alarming.”

President Clinton’s announcement last week that he would leave it to the next administration to decide whether and when to deploy such a system will be welcomed by many leaders who have criticized the U.S. plans as a threat to 30 years of arms control treaties.

President Clinton had a meeting with Putin today where the two leaders discussed the national nuclear missile defense system.

Street Protests

Chinese President Jiang Zemin is also expected to rally international support against U.S. national missile defense plans.

But Jiang will have his own controversies to deal with, as members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement stage continuous demonstrations against the Chinese leader for Beijing’s crackdown on the sect — part of the 91 demonstrations planned this week.

Other protests have been aimed at Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, including a demonstration Tuesday outside Iran’s U.N. mission by a coalition of Jewish groups protesting the prison sentences handed down to 10 Iranian Jews convicted of espionage.

Watching the World

When the hoopla of the summit ends, Annan wants the United Nations to monitor how every world leader is implementing the lofty goals in the summit declaration. The declaration expected to be adopted Friday asks the General Assembly to review “on a regular basis” the progress made in implementing its provisions. And it asks Annan to issue periodic reports for consideration by the General Assembly.

“I am telling the world leaders not only to come here and approve a plan of action, but that I would expect each and every one of them to go back home and begin to do something about it,” he said.

ABCNEWS' Tamara Lipper, Rebecca Cooper and The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.