Talks: President Obama addresses the 66th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York
On camera: A Palestinian U.N. representative,
centre, was seen on TV shaking his head when Mr Obama said the
Palestinians and Israelis must learn to 'see the world through the
other's eyes' (scroll down for video)
Unmoved: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
holds his hands to his face as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during
the 66th session of the General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters on
Wednesday
Big speech: President Obama said 2011 has
already been a year of 'extraordinary transformation' after a 'difficult
decade' and told the U.N. it has 'a chance to move decisively in the
direction of peace'
Talk: He spoke to the U.N. General Assembly
today about a 'remarkable year' for peace in which Colonel Gaddafi's
regime fell in Libya and former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was
killed in Pakistan
Point: Mr Obama praised President Franklin
Roosevelt's role in setting up the UN - and quoted him saying: 'We've
got to make not merely a peace, but a peace that will last'
Religious unrest: Palestinian demonstrators
carry a slingshot and rocks past a burning rubbish bin during clashes
with Israeli soldiers today
Violence: A Palestinian holds a slingshot as
others roll tires to burn during clashes with Israeli soldiers, at the
Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem
Diagrams: These maps show the possible land swap scenarios for Israel and Palestine in the Middle East
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President Barack Obama's full speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York
Mr
President, Mr Secretary-General, fellow delegates, ladies and
gentlemen: I would like to talk to you about a subject that is at the
heart of the United Nations – the pursuit of peace in an imperfect
world.
War and conflict
have been with us since the beginning of civilization. But in the first
part of the 20th century, the advance of modern weaponry led to death on
a staggering scale. It was this killing that compelled the founders of
this body to build an institution that was focused not just on ending
one war, but on averting others; a union of sovereign states that would
seek to prevent conflict, while also addressing its causes.
No
American did more to pursue this objective than President Franklin
Roosevelt. He knew that a victory in war was not enough. As he said at
one of the very first meetings on the founding of the United Nations:
‘We have got to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last.’
The
men and women who built this institution understood that peace is more
than the absence of war. A lasting peace – for nations and individuals –
depends upon a sense of justice and opportunity; of dignity and
freedom. It depends upon struggle and sacrifice; on compromise, and a
sense of common humanity.
One
delegate to the San Francisco Conference that led to the creation of
United Nations put it well – ‘Many people,’ she said, ‘have talked as if
all we had to do to get peace was…to say loudly and frequently that we
loved peace and hated war. Now we have learned that no matter how much
we love peace and hate war, we cannot avoid having war brought upon us
if there are convulsions in other parts of the world.’
The
fact is, peace is hard, but our people demand it. Over nearly seven
decades, even as the United Nations helped avert a third World War, we
still live in a world scarred by conflict and plagued by poverty. Even
as we proclaim our love for peace and hatred of war, there are
convulsions in our world that endanger us all.
I
took office at a time of two wars for the United States. Moreover, the
violent extremists who drew us into war in the first place – Osama Bin
Laden, and his Al Qaeda organisation – remained at large. Today, we have
set a new direction.
At
the end of this year, America’s military operation in Iraq will be
over. We will have a normal relationship with a sovereign nation that is
a member of the community of nations. That equal partnership will be
strengthened by our support for Iraq – for its government and Security
Forces; for its people and their aspirations.
As
we end the war in Iraq, the United States and our coalition partners
have begun a transition in Afghanistan. Between now and 2014, an
increasingly capable Afghan government and Security Forces will step
forward to take responsibility for the future of their country. As they
do, we are drawing down our own forces, while building an enduring
partnership with the Afghan people.
So
let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding. When I took office,
roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. By the
end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue
to decline. This is critical to the sovereignty of Iraq and Afghanistan,
and to the strength of the United States as we build our nation at
home.
Moreover, we are
poised to end these wars from a position of strength. Ten years ago,
there was an open wound of twisted steel and broken hearts in this city.
Today, as a new tower rising at Ground Zero symbolizes New York’s
renewal, al Qaeda is under more pressure than ever before. Its
leadership has been degraded. And Osama bin Laden, a man who murdered
thousands of people from dozens of countries, will never endanger the
peace of the world again.
Yes,
this has been a difficult decade. But today, we stand at a crossroads
of history with the chance to move decisively in the direction of peace.
To do so, we must return to the wisdom of those who created this
institution. The UN’s Founding Charter calls upon us, ‘to unite our
strength to maintain international peace and security.’ And Article 1 of
this General Assembly’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds
us that: ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights.’ Those bedrock beliefs – in the responsibility of states, and
the rights of men and women – must be our guide.
In
that effort, we have reason to hope. This year has been a time of
transformation. More nations have stepped forward to maintain
international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming
their universal right to live in freedom and dignity.
One
year ago, when we met here in New York, the prospect of a successful
referendum in South Sudan was in doubt. But the international community
overcame old divisions to support the agreement that had been negotiated
to give South Sudan self-determination. And last summer, as a new flag
went up in Juba, former soldiers laid down their arms; men and women
wept with joy; and children finally knew the promise of looking to a
future that they will shape.
One
year ago, the people of Cote D’Ivoire approached a landmark election.
And when the incumbent lost, and refused to respect the results, the
world refused to look the other way. UN peacekeepers were harassed, but
did not leave their posts. The Security Council, led by the United
States, Nigeria, and France, came together to support the will of the
people. And Cote D’Ivoire is now governed by the man who was elected to
lead.
One year ago, the
hopes of the people of Tunisia were suppressed. But they chose the
dignity of peaceful protest over the rule of an iron fist. A vendor lit a
spark that took his own life, but ignited a movement. In the face of a
crackdown, students spelled out the word freedom. The balance of fear
shifted from the ruler to those that he ruled. Now the people of Tunisia
are preparing for elections that will move them one step closer to the
democracy they deserve.
One
year ago, Egypt had known one President for nearly thirty years. But
for 18 days, the eyes of the world were on Tahrir Square, where
Egyptians from all walks of life – men and women; young and old; Muslim
and Christian – demanded their universal rights. We saw in those
protesters the moral force of non-violence that has lit the world from
Delhi to Warsaw; from Selma to South Africa – and we knew that change
had come to Egypt and to the Arab World.
One
year ago, the people of Libya were ruled by the world’s longest serving
dictator. But faced with bullets and bombs and a dictator who
threatened to hunt them down like rats, they showed relentless bravery.
We will never forget the words of the Libyan who stood up in those early
days of revolution and said: ‘Our words are free now. It’s a feeling
you can’t explain.’
Day
after day, in the face of bullets and bombs, the Libyan people refused
to give back that freedom. And when they were threatened by the kind of
mass atrocity that often went unchallenged in the last century, the
United Nations lived up to its charter. The Security Council authorized
all necessary measures to prevent a massacre. The Arab League called for
this effort, and Arab nations joined a NATO-led coalition that halted
Qadhafi’s forces in their tracks.
In
the months that followed, the will of the coalition proved unbreakable,
and the will of the Libyan people could not be denied. Forty-two years
of tyranny was ended in six months. From Tripoli to Misratah to Benghazi
– today, Libya is free. Yesterday, the leaders of a new Libya took
their rightful place beside us, and this week, the United States is
reopening our Embassy in Tripoli. This is how the international
community is supposed to work – nations standing together for the sake
of peace and security; individuals claiming their rights. Now, all of us
have a responsibility to support the new Libyan government as they
confront the challenge of turning this moment of promise into a just and
lasting peace for all Libyans.
So
it has been a remarkable year. The Qadhafi regime is over. Gbagbo, Ben
Ali, and Mubarak are no longer in power. Osama bin Laden is gone, and
the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried
with him. Something is happening in our world. The way things have been
is not the way they will be. The humiliating grip of corruption and
tyranny is being pried open. Technology is putting power in the hands of
the people. The youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship,
and rejecting the lie that some races, religions and ethnicities do not
desire democracy. The promise written down on paper – ‘all human beings
are born free and equal in dignity and rights’ – is closer at hand.
But
let us remember: peace is hard. Progress can be reversed. Prosperity
comes slowly. Societies can split apart. The measure of our success must
be whether people can live in sustained freedom, dignity, and security.
And the United Nations and its member states must do their part to
support those basic aspirations.
In
Iran, we have seen a government that refuses to recognize the rights of
its own people. And as we meet here today, men, women and children are
being tortured, detained and murdered by the Syrian regime. Thousands
have been killed, many during the holy time of Ramadan. Thousands more
have poured across Syria’s borders. The Syrian people have shown dignity
and courage in their pursuit of justice – protesting peacefully,
standing silently in the streets, dying for the same values that this
institution is supposed to stand for. The question for us is clear: Will
we stand with the Syrian people, or with their oppressors?
Already,
the United States has imposed strong sanctions on Syria’s leaders. We
have supported a transfer of power that is responsive to the Syrian
people. Many of our allies have joined us in this effort. But for the
sake of Syria – and the peace and security of the world – we must speak
with one voice. There is no excuse for inaction. Now is the time for the
United Nations Security Council to sanction the Syrian regime, and to
stand with the Syrian people.
Throughout
the region, we will have to respond to the calls for change. In Yemen,
men, women and children gather by the thousands in towns and city
squares every day with the hope that their determination and spilled
blood will prevail over a corrupt system. America supports their
aspirations. We must work with Yemen’s neighbours and our partners
around the world to seek a path that allows for a peaceful transition of
power from President Saleh, and a movement to free and fair elections
as soon as possible. In Bahrain, steps have been taken toward reform and
accountability, but more are required. America is a close friend of
Bahrain, and we will continue to call on the government and the main
opposition bloc – the Wifaq – to pursue a meaningful dialogue that
brings peaceful change that is responsive to the people. And we believe
the patriotism that binds Bahrainis together must be more powerful than
the sectarian forces that would tear them apart.
Each
nation must chart its own course to fulfil the aspirations of its
people, and America does not expect to agree with every party or person
who expresses themselves politically. But we will always stand up for
the universal rights that were embraced by this Assembly. Those rights
depend upon elections that are free and fair; governance that is
transparent and accountable; respect for the rights of women and
minorities; and justice that is equal and fair. That is what our people
deserve. Those are elements of a peace that lasts.
Moreover,
the United States will continue to support those nations that
transition to democracy – with greater trade and investment, so that
freedom is followed by opportunity. We will pursue a deeper engagement
with governments, but also civil society – students and entrepreneurs;
political parties and the press. We have banned those who abuse human
rights from travelling to our country, and sanctioned those who trample
on human rights abroad. And we will always serve as a voice for those
who have been silenced.
Now
I know that for many in this hall, one issue stands as a test for these
principles – and for American foreign policy: the conflict between the
Israelis and Palestinians.
One
year ago, I stood at this podium and called for an independent
Palestine. I believed then – and I believe now – that the Palestinian
people deserve a state of their own. But what I also said is that
genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians
themselves. One year later, despite extensive efforts by America and
others, the parties have not bridged their differences. Faced with this
stalemate, I put forward a new basis for negotiations in May. That basis
is clear, and well known to all of us here. Israelis must know that any
agreement provides assurances for their security. Palestinians deserve
to know the territorial basis of their state.
I
know that many are frustrated by the lack of progress. So am I. But the
question isn’t the goal we seek – the question is how to reach it. And I
am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that
has endured for decades. Peace will not come through statements and
resolutions at the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been
accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who
must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians –
not us – who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on
borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem.
Peace
depends upon compromise among peoples who must live together long after
our speeches are over, and our votes have been counted. That is the
lesson of Northern Ireland, where ancient antagonists bridged their
differences. That is the lesson of Sudan, where a negotiated settlement
led to an independent state. And that is the path to a Palestinian
state.
We seek a future
where Palestinians live in a sovereign state of their own, with no
limit to what they can achieve. There is no question that the
Palestinians have seen that vision delayed for too long. And it is
precisely because we believe so strongly in the aspirations of the
Palestinian people that America has invested so much time and effort in
the building of a Palestinian state, and the negotiations that can
achieve one.
America’s
commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable, and our friendship with
Israel is deep and enduring. And so we believe that any lasting peace
must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every
single day. Let’s be honest: Israel is surrounded by neighbours that
have waged repeated wars against it. Israel’s citizens have been killed
by rockets fired at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses.
Israel’s children come of age knowing that throughout the region, other
children are taught to hate them. Israel, a small country of less than
eight million people, looks out at a world where leaders of much larger
nations threaten to wipe it off of the map. The Jewish people carry the
burden of centuries of exile, persecution, and the fresh memory of
knowing that six million people were killed simply because of who they
were.
These facts
cannot be denied. The Jewish people have forged a successful state in
their historic homeland. Israel deserves recognition. It deserves normal
relations with its neighbours. And friends of the Palestinians do them
no favours by ignoring this truth, just as friends of Israel must
recognize the need to pursue a two state solution with a secure Israel
next to an independent Palestine.
That
truth – that each side has legitimate aspirations – is what makes peace
so hard. And the deadlock will only be broken when each side learns to
stand in each other’s shoes. That’s what we should be encouraging. This
body – founded, as it was, out of the ashes of war and genocide;
dedicated, as it is, to the dignity of every person – must recognize the
reality that is lived by both the Palestinians and the Israelis. The
measure of our actions must always be whether they advance the right of
Israeli and Palestinian children to live in peace and security, with
dignity and opportunity. We will only succeed in that effort if we can
encourage the parties to sit down together, to listen to each other, and
to understand each other’s hopes and fears. That is the project to
which America is committed. And that is what the United Nations should
be focused on in the weeks and months to come.
Now,
even as we confront these challenges of conflict and revolution, we
must also recognize once more that peace is not just the absence of war.
True peace depends upon creating the opportunity that makes life worth
living. And to do that, we must confront the common enemies of human
beings: nuclear weapons and poverty; ignorance and disease. These forces
corrode the possibility of lasting peace, and together we are called
upon to confront them.
To
lift the spectre of mass destruction, we must come together to pursue
the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Over the last
two years, we have begun to walk down that path. Since our Nuclear
Security Summit in Washington, nearly 50 nations have taken steps to
secure nuclear materials from terrorists and smugglers. Next March, a
Summit in Seoul will advance our efforts to lock down all of them. The
New START Treaty between the United States and Russia will cut our
deployed arsenals to the lowest level in a half century, and our nations
are pursuing talks on how to achieve deeper reductions. America will
continue to work for a ban on the testing of nuclear weapons, and the
production of fissile material needed to make them.
As
we meet our obligations, we have strengthened the treaties and
institutions that help stop the spread of these weapons. To do so, we
must continue to hold accountable those nations that flout them. The
Iranian government cannot demonstrate that its program is peaceful, has
not met its obligations, and rejected offers that would provide it with
peaceful nuclear power. North Korea has yet to take concrete steps
toward abandoning its weapons, and continues belligerent actions against
the South. There is a future of greater opportunity for the people of
these nations if their governments meet their obligations. But if they
continue down a path that is outside international law, they must be met
with greater pressure and isolation. That is what our commitment to
peace demands.
To bring
prosperity to our people, we must promote the growth that creates
opportunity. In this effort, let us not forget that we have made
enormous progress over the last several decades. Closed societies gave
way to open markets. Innovation and entrepreneurship has transformed the
way we live and the things that we can do. Emerging economies from Asia
to the Americas have lifted hundreds of millions from poverty. Yet
three years ago, we confronted the worst financial crisis in eight
decades. That crisis proved a fact that has become clearer with each
passing year – our fate is interconnected; in a global economy, nations
will rise, or fall, together.
Today,
we confront the challenges that have followed that crisis. Recovery is
fragile. Markets are volatile. Too many people are out of work. Too many
others are struggling to get by. We acted together to avert a
Depression in 2009. We must take urgent and coordinated action once
more. Here in the United States, I have announced a plan to put
Americans back to work and jumpstart our economy, and committed to
substantially reduce our deficit over time. We stand with our European
allies as they reshape their institutions and address their own fiscal
challenge. For other countries, leaders face a different challenge as
they shift their economies towards more self-reliance, boosting domestic
demand while slowing inflation. So we will work with emerging economies
that have rebounded strongly, so that rising standards of living create
new markets that promote global growth. That is what our commitment to
prosperity demands.
To
combat the poverty that punishes our children, we must act on the belief
that freedom from want is a basic human right. The United States has
made it a focus of our engagement abroad to help people to feed
themselves. And today, as drought and conflict have brought famine to
the Horn of Africa, our conscience calls on us to act. Together, we must
continue to provide assistance, and support organizations that can
reach those in need. And together, we must insist on unrestricted
humanitarian access so that we can save the lives of thousands of men,
women and children. Our common humanity is at stake. Let us show that
the life of a child in Somalia is as precious as any other. That is what
our commitment to our fellow human beings demands.
To
stop disease that spreads across borders, we must strengthen our
systems of public health. We will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. We will focus on the health of mothers and
children. And we must come together to prevent, detect, and fight every
kind of biological danger – whether it is a pandemic like H1N1, a
terrorist threat, or a treatable disease. This week, America signed an
agreement with the World Health Organization to affirm our commitment to
meet this challenge. Today, I urge all nations to join us in meeting
the WHO’s goal of making sure all nations have core capacities to
address public health emergencies in place by 2012. That is what our
commitment to the health of our people demands.
To
preserve our planet, we must not put off the action that a changing
climate demands. We must tap the power of science to save those
resources that are scarce. Together, we must continue our work to build
on the progress made in Copenhagen and Cancun, so that all of the major
economies here today follow through on the commitments that were made.
Together, we must work to transform the energy that powers are
economies, and support others as they move down that path. That is what
our commitment to the next generation demands.
And
to make sure our societies reach their potential, we must allow our
citizens to reach theirs. No country can afford the cancer of
corruption. Together, we must harness the power of open societies and
open economies. That is why we have partnered with countries from across
the globe to launch a new partnership on Open Government that helps
ensure accountability and empower their citizens. No country should deny
people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must
stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere. And no country
can realize its potential if half its population cannot reach theirs.
This week, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s
Participation. Next year, we should each announce the steps we are
taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the
way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress
demands.
I know that
there is no straight line to progress, no single path to success. We
come from different cultures, and carry with us different histories. But
let us never forget that even as we gather here as heads of different
governments, we represent citizens who share the same basic aspirations –
to live with dignity and freedom; to get an education and pursue
opportunity; to love our families and our God. To live in the kind of
peace that makes life worth living.
It
is the nature of our imperfect world that we are forced to learn this
lesson over and over again. Conflict and repression will endure so long
as some people refuse to do unto others as we would have them do unto
us. Yet that is precisely why we have built institutions like this that
bind our fates together – because those who came before us believed that
peace is preferable to war; freedom is preferable to suppression; and
prosperity is preferable to poverty. That is the message that comes not
from capitals, but from citizens.
When
the corner-stone of this very building was put in place, President
Truman came here to New York and said: ‘The United Nations is
essentially an expression of the moral nature of man’s aspirations.’ As
we live in a world that is changing at a breath-taking pace, that is a
lesson that we must never forget.
Peace
is hard, but we know that it is possible. Together, let us resolve to
see that it is defined by our hopes and not our fears. Together, let us
work to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last. Thank you.