YouSaid · the spoken record

Barack Obama

lines on the record: 291
first: 2009-09-24
most recent: 2016-09-24
sittings or episodes: 8
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Even as we confront these challenges of conflict and revolution, we must also recognize — and we must also remind ourselves — that peace is not just the absence of war. True peace depends on creating the opportunity that makes life worth living. And to do that, we must confront the common enemies of humanity: nuclear weapons and poverty, ignorance and disease. Those 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 past two years, we have begun to walk down that path. Since our Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., nearly 50 nations have taken steps to secure nuclear materials from terrorists and smugglers.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“This body — founded as it was out of the ashes of war and genocide, and dedicated as it is to the dignity of every single person — must recognize the reality that is lived by the Palestinians and the Israelis alike. The measure of our actions must always be whether they advance the right of Israeli and Palestinian children to live lives of peace and security and dignity and opportunity. And we will succeed in that effort only if we can encourage the parties to sit down, to listen to each other and to understand each other’s hopes and each other’s fears. That is the project to which America is committed. There are no shortcuts. And that is what the United Nations should be focused on in the weeks and months to come.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 that 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 is the truth. Each side has legitimate aspirations, and that is part of what makes peace so hard. And the deadlock will be broken only when each side learns to stand in the other’s shoes and each side can see the world through the other’s eyes. That is what we should be encouraging. That is what we should be promoting.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“And so we believe that any lasting peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every single day. Let us be honest with ourselves: 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 8 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 and persecution and fresh memories of knowing that 6 million people were killed simply because of who they are. Those are facts. They cannot be denied.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is the lesson of the Sudan, where a negotiated settlement led to an independent State. And that is and will be the 13 11-50692 path to a Palestinian State — negotiations between the parties. 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. It is precisely because we believe so strongly in the aspirations of the Palestinian people that America has invested so much time and so much effort in the building of a Palestinian State and in the negotiations that can deliver a Palestinian State. But understand this as well: America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable. Our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“And I am convinced that there is no shortcut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace is hard work. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the United Nations. If it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is the Israelis and the Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is the Israelis and the Palestinians — not us — who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and on security, on refugees and on Jerusalem. Ultimately, peace depends upon compromise among people who must live together long after our speeches are over, long after our votes have been tallied. That is the lesson of Northern Ireland, where ancient antagonists bridged their differences.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“I believed then, and I believe now, that the Palestinian people deserve a State of their own, but what I also said is that a genuine peace can be realized only between the Israelis and the 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 of this year. That basis is clear. It is 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; I assure them that I am too. But the question is not the goal that we seek. The question is: How do we reach that goal?”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Moreover, the United States will continue to support, with greater trade and investment, those nations that transition to democracy, so that freedom is followed by opportunity. We will pursue deeper engagement with Governments, but also with civil society — students and entrepreneurs, political parties and the press. We have banned those who abuse human rights from travelling to our country and we have 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, particularly this week, that for many in this Hall, there is one issue that stands as a test of these principles and a test of American foreign policy, and that is the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. One year ago, I stood at this podium and I called for an independent Palestine.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“We believe the patriotism that binds Bahrainis together must be more powerful than the sectarian forces that would tear them apart. It will be hard, but it is possible. We believe that each nation must chart its own course to fulfil the aspirations of its people. 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 on 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 the elements of peace that can last.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 those 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 towards reform and accountability. We are pleased with that, but more is required. America is a close friend of Bahrain, and we will continue to call on the Government and the main opposition bloc — al-Wifaq — to pursue a meaningful dialogue that brings peaceful change that is responsive to the people.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Syrian people have shown dignity 11-50692 12 and courage in their pursuit of justice, protesting peacefully, standing silently in the streets and dying for the same values that this institution is supposed to stand for. And 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 supported a transfer of power that would be responsive to the Syrian people. And many of our allies have joined 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 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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. 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. And we have more work to do. In Iran, we have seen a Government that refuses to recognize the rights of its own people. 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Now, all of us have a responsibility to support the new Libya and 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 this has been a remarkable year. The Al-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 come only through violence has been buried with him. Something is happening in our world. The way things have been is not the way that they will be. The humiliating grip of corruption and tyranny is being pried open. Dictators are on notice. Technology is putting power into the hands of the people. Youth are delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship and rejecting the lie that some races, some peoples, some religions and some ethnicities do not desire democracy.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The Security Council authorized all necessary measures to prevent a massacre. The Arab League called for that effort. Arab nations joined a NATO-led coalition that halted Al-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 were ended in six months. From Tripoli to Misurata 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, and individuals claiming their rights.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 the revolution and said, “Our words are free now”. It is a feeling one cannot 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 past century, the United Nations lived up to its Charter.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Côte 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 whom he ruled. Now the people of Tunisia are preparing for elections that will move them one step closer to the democracy that they deserve. One year ago, Egypt had known one President for nearly 30 years. But for 18 days, the eyes of the world were glued to Tahrir Square, where Egyptians from all walks of life — men and women, young and old, Muslim and Christian — demanded their universal rights.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 11 11-50692 agreement that had been negotiated to give South Sudan self-determination. 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 Côte d’Ivoire approached a landmark election. When the incumbent lost and refused to respect the results, the world refused to look the other way. United Nations peacekeepers were harassed, but they 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 founding Charter of United Nations calls upon us, to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security. Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in 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 extraordinary transformation. More nations have stepped forward to maintain international peace and security. More individuals are claiming their universal right to live in freedom and dignity. Think about it.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue to decline. This is critical for 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 and twisted steel; a broken heart in the centre of this city. Today, as a new tower is rising at Ground Zero, it symbolizes New York’s renewal, even as Al-Qaida is under more pressure than ever before. Its leadership has been degraded. 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 its 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“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 still 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-Qaida organization — 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“As he said at one of the very first meetings on the founding of the United Nations, “We have got to make not merely 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 on a sense of common humanity. One delegate to the San Francisco Conference, which led to the creation of the United Nations, put it well: “Many people 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.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“It is a great honour for me to be here today. I would like to talk to the General Assembly 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 twentieth century, the advance of modern weaponry led to death on a staggering scale. It was that killing that 11-50692 10 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 that objective than President Franklin Roosevelt. He knew that a victory in war was not enough.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Remember, in times that were far more trying than our own, our predecessors chose the hope of unity over the ease of division and made a promise to future generations that the dignity and equality of human beings would be our common cause. It falls to us to fulfil that promise. And though we will be met by dark forces that will test our resolve, Americans have always had cause to believe that we can choose a better history; that we need only to look outside the walls around us. For through the citizens of every conceivable ancestry who make this city their own, we see living proof that opportunity can be accessed by all, that what unites us as human beings is far greater than what divides us, and that people from every part of this world can live together in peace.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“So even as we have come through a difficult decade, I stand here before you confident in the future — a future where Iraq is governed by neither a tyrant nor a foreign Power, and Afghanistan is freed from the turmoil of war; a future where the children of Israel and Palestine can build the peace that was not possible for their parents; a world where the promise of development reaches into the prisons of poverty and disease; a future where the cloud of recession gives way to the light of renewal, and the dream of opportunity is available to all. This future will not be easy to reach. It will not come without setbacks, nor will it be quickly claimed. But the founding of the United Nations itself is a testament to human progress.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In particular, I appeal to those nations that emerged from tyranny and inspired the world in the second half of the last century — from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to South America. Do not stand idly by, do not be silent, when dissidents elsewhere are imprisoned and protesters are beaten, recall your own history. Because part of the price of our own freedom is standing up for the freedom of others. That belief will guide America’s leadership in this twenty-first century. It is a belief that has seen us through more than two centuries of trial, and it will see 15 10-54827 us through the challenges we face today — be they war or recession; conflict or division.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is time to welcome the efforts of UN Women to protect the rights of women around the world. It is time for every Member State to open its elections to international monitors and increase the United Nations Democracy Fund. It is time to invigorate United Nations peacekeeping, so that missions have the resources necessary to succeed, and so atrocities like sexual violence are prevented and justice is enforced — because neither dignity nor democracy can thrive without basic security. It is time to make this institution more accountable as well, because the challenges of the new century demand new ways of serving our common interests. The world that America seeks is not one we can build on our own. For human rights to reach those who suffer the boot of oppression, we need your voices to speak out.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The common thread of progress is the principle that government is accountable to its citizens. And the diversity in this Hall makes clear — no one country has all the answers, but all of us must answer to our own people. In all parts of the world, we see the promise of innovation to make government more open and accountable. And now we must build on that progress. And when we gather back here next year, we should bring specific commitments to promote transparency; to fight corruption; to energize civic engagement; to leverage new technology so that we strengthen the foundations of freedom in our own countries, while living up to the ideals that can light the world. This institution can still play an indispensable role in the advance of human rights.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I will continue to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, which binds together thousands of islands through the glue of representative government and civil society. I will join the Group-of- 20 meeting on the Korean peninsula, which provides the world’s clearest contrast between a society that is dynamic and open and free, and one that is imprisoned and closed. And I will conclude my trip in Japan, an ancient culture that found peace and extraordinary development through democracy. Each of these countries gives life to democratic principles in its own way. And even as some Governments roll back reform, we also celebrate the courage of a President in Colombia who willingly stepped aside, or the promise of a new constitution in Kenya.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“And it is time to embrace and effectively monitor norms that advance the rights of civil society and guarantee its expansion within and across borders. Open society supports open government, but it cannot substitute for it. There is no right more fundamental than the right to choose your leaders and determine your destiny. Now, make no mistake: the ultimate success of democracy in the world will not come because the United States dictates it; it will come because individual citizens demand a say in how they are governed. There is no soil where this cannot take root, just as every democracy reflects the uniqueness of a nation. Later this fall, I will travel to Asia. And I will visit India, which peacefully threw off colonialism and established a thriving democracy of over a billion people.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have seen that from the South Africans who stood up to apartheid, to the Poles of Solidarity, to the mothers of the disappeared who spoke out against the Dirty War, to Americans who marched for the rights of all races, including my own. Civil society is the conscience of our communities and America will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of Government. And we will call out those who suppress ideas and serve as a voice for those who are voiceless. We will promote new tools of communication so people are empowered to connect with one another and, in repressive societies, to do so with security. We will support a free and open Internet, so individuals have the information to make up their own minds.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“America will partner with nations that offer their people a path out of poverty. And together, we must unleash growth that powers by individuals and merging markets in all parts of the globe. There is no reason why Africa should not be an exporter of agriculture, which is why our food security initiative is empowering farmers. There is no reason why entrepreneurs should not be able to build new markets in every society, which is why I hosted a summit on entrepreneurship earlier this spring, because the obligation of Government is to empower individuals, not to impede them. The same holds true for civil society. The arc of human progress has been shaped by individuals with the freedom to assemble and by organizations outside of government that insisted upon democratic change 10-54827 14 and by free media that held the powerful accountable.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“America is working to shape a world that fosters this openness. For the rot of a closed or corrupt economy must never eclipse the energy and innovation of human beings.All of us want the right to educate our children, to make a decent wage, to care for the sick, and to be carried as far as our dreams and deeds will take us. But that depends upon economies that tap the power of our people, including the potential of women and girls. That means letting entrepreneurs start a business without paying a bribe and Governments that support opportunity instead of stealing from their people. And that means rewarding hard work, instead of reckless risk-taking. Yesterday, I put forward a new development policy that will pursue these goals, recognizing that dignity is a human right and global development is in our common interest.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today, as in past times of economic downturn, some put human rights aside for the promise of short-term stability or the false notion that economic growth can come at the expense of freedom. We see leaders abolishing term limits, we see crackdowns on civil society, we see corruption smothering entrepreneurship and good governance, we see democratic reforms deferred indefinitely. As I said last year, each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its own people. Yet experience shows us that history is on the side of liberty; that the strongest foundation lies in open economies, open societies, and open Governments. To put it simply, democracy, more than any other form of government, delivers for our citizens. And I believe that truth will only grow stronger in a world where the borders between nations are blurred.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“So we stand up for universal values because it is the right thing to do. But we also know from experience that those who defend these values for their people have been our closest friends and allies, while those who have denied those rights — whether terrorist groups or tyrannical Governments — have chosen to be our adversaries. Human rights have never gone unchallenged — not in any of our nations, not in our world. Tyranny is still with us — whether it manifests itself in the Taliban killing girls who try to go to school, a North Korean regime that enslaves its own people, or an armed group in Congo-Kinshasa that use rape as a weapon of war. In times of economic unease, there can also be an anxiety about human rights.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“And, that is what I would like to talk about with the remainder of my time today. One of the first actions of the General Assembly was to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This Declaration begins by stating that, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”. The idea is a simple one — that freedom, justice and peace for the world must begin with freedom, justice and peace in the lives of individual human beings. For the United States, this is a matter of moral and pragmatic assessment. As Robert Kennedy said, “the individual man, the child of God, is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the state exist for his benefit”.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new State Member of the United Nations — an independent, sovereign State of Palestine living in peace with Israel. 13 10-54827 It is our destiny to bear the burdens of the challenges that I have addressed — recession and war and conflict. And there is always a sense of urgency, even emergency, that drives most of our foreign policies. Indeed, after millennia marked by wars, this very institution reflects the desire of human beings to create a forum to deal with emergencies that will inevitably come. But even as we confront immediate challenges, we must also summon the foresight to look beyond them and consider what we are trying to build over the long term. What is the world that awaits us when today’s battles are brought to an end?”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We can table the same resolutions. We can further empower the forces of rejectionism and hate. And we can waste more time by carrying forward an argument that will not help a single Israeli or Palestinian child achieve a better life. We can do that. Or we can say that this time will be different — that this time we will not let terror or turbulence or posturing or petty politics stand in the way. This time we will think, not of ourselves, but of the young girl in Gaza who wants to have no ceiling on her dreams or the young boy in Sderot who wants to sleep without the nightmare of rocket fire. This time we should draw upon the teachings of tolerance that lie at the heart of the three great religions that see Jerusalem’s soil as sacred. This time we should reach for what is best within ourselves.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Israel is a sovereign State, and the historic homeland of the Jewish people. It should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at Israel’s legitimacy will be met by the unshakeable opposition of the United States. Efforts to threaten or kill Israelis will do nothing to help the Palestinian people. The slaughter of innocent Israelis is not resistance; it is injustice. And make no mistake: the courage of a man like President Abbas, who stands up for his people in front of the world under very difficult circumstances, is far greater than those who fire rockets at innocent women and children. The conflict between Israelis and Arabs is as old as the United Nations. And we can come back here next year, as we have for the last 60 years, and make long speeches about it. We can read familiar lists of grievances.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I know many in this Hall count themselves as friends of the Palestinians. These pledges of friendship must now be supported by deeds. Those who have signed on to the Arab Peace Initiative should seize this opportunity to make it real by taking tangible steps towards the normalization that it promises Israel. And those who speak on behalf of Palestinian self-government should help the Palestinian Authority politically and financially, and in doing so help the Palestinians build the institutions of their State. Those who long to see an independent Palestine must also stop trying to tear down Israel. After thousands of years, Jews and Arabs are not strangers in a strange land. After 60 years in the community of nations, Israel’s existence must not be a subject for debate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Now is the time for the parties to help each other overcome this obstacle. Now is the time to build the trust — and provide the time — for substantial progress to be made. Now is the time for this opportunity to be seized, so that it does not slip away. Now, peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but we each have a responsibility to do our part as well. Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that true security for the Jewish State requires an independent Palestine — one that allows the Palestinian people to live with dignity and opportunity. And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means — including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“President Abbas said, “We will spare no effort and we will work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these negotiations achieve their cause”. These words must now be followed by action, and I believe that both leaders have the courage to do so. But the road that they have to travel is exceedingly difficult, which is why I call upon Israelis and Palestinians — and the world — to rally behind the goal that these leaders now share. We know that there will be tests along the way, and that one test is fast approaching. Israel’s settlement moratorium has made a difference on the ground and improved the atmosphere for talks. And our position on this issue is well known. We believe that the moratorium should be extended. We also believe that talks should press on until completed.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbours who are committed to coexistence. The hard realities of demography will take over. More blood will be shed. This Holy Land will remain a symbol of our differences, instead of our common humanity. 10-54827 12 I refuse to accept that future. We all have a choice to make. Each of us must choose the path of peace. Of course, that responsibility begins with the parties themselves, who must answer the call of history. Earlier this month, at the White House, I was struck by the words of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “I came here today to find an historic compromise that will enable both peoples to live in peace, security and dignity”.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But this month I am pleased that we have pursued direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in Washington, Sharm el-Sheikh and Jerusalem. Now I recognize that many are pessimistic about this process. The cynics say that Israelis and Palestinians are too distrustful of each other, and too divided internally, to forge lasting peace. Rejectionists on both sides will try to disrupt the process with bitter words and with bombs and gunfire. Some say that the gaps between the parties are too big; the potential for talks to break down is too great; and that after decades of failure peace is simply not possible. I hear those voices of scepticism. But I ask the Assembly to consider the alternative. If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own State.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Since the rains came and the floodwaters rose in Pakistan, we have pledged our assistance, and we should all support the Pakistani people as they recover and rebuild. And when the earth shook and Haiti was devastated by loss, we joined a coalition of nations in response. Today, we honour those from the United Nations family who lost their lives in the earthquake and commit ourselves to stand with the people of Haiti until they can stand on their own two feet. Amidst this upheaval, we have also been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Last year, I pledged my best efforts to support the goal of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, as part of a comprehensive peace between Israel and all of its neighbours. We have travelled a winding road over the last 12 months, with few peaks and many valleys.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But the Iranian Government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear programme. As we combat the spread of deadly weapons, we are also confronting the spectre of climate change. After making historic investments in clean energy and efficiency at home, we helped forge an accord in Copenhagen that — for the first time — commits all major economies to reduce their emissions. We are keenly aware this is just a first step. And going forward, we will support a process in which all major economies meet our responsibilities to protect the planet while unleashing the power of clean energy to serve as an engine of growth and development. America has also embraced unique responsibilities that come with our power.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As part of our effort on non-proliferation, I offered the Islamic Republic of Iran an extended hand last year and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities as a member of the international community. I also said — in this Hall — that Iran must be held accountable if it failed to meet those responsibilities. And that is what we have done. Iran is the only party to the NPT that cannot demonstrate the peaceful intentions of its nuclear programme, and those actions have consequences. Through Security Council resolution 1929 (2010), we made it clear that international law is not an empty promise. Now let me be clear once more: the United States and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“And from South Asia to the Horn of Africa, we are moving towards a more targeted approach — one that strengthens our partners and dismantles terrorist networks without deploying large American armies. As we pursue the world’s most dangerous extremists, we are also denying them the world’s most dangerous weapons and pursuing the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, 47 nations embraced a work plan to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. We have joined with Russia to sign the most comprehensive arms control treaty in decades. We have reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy. And here, at the United Nations, we came together to strengthen the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Since I took office, the United States has removed nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq. We have done so responsibly as Iraqis have transitioned to lead responsibility for the security of their country. We are now focused on building a lasting partnership with the Iraqi people while keeping our commitment to remove the rest of our troops by the end of next year. 11 10-54827 While drawing down in Iraq, we have refocused on defeating Al-Qaida and denying its affiliates safe haven. In Afghanistan, the United States and our allies are pursuing a strategy to break the Taliban’s momentum and build the capacity of Afghanistan’s Government and security forces so that a transition to Afghan responsibility can begin next July.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“And we made the Group of 20 the focal point for international coordination, because in a world where prosperity is more diffuse, we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include emerging economies — economies from every corner of the globe. There is much to show for our efforts, even as there is much work to be done. The global economy has been pulled back from the brink of a depression and is growing once more. We have resisted protectionism and are exploring ways to expand trade and commerce among nations. But we cannot — and will not — rest until these seeds of progress grow into a broader prosperity, not only for all Americans but for peoples around the world. As for our common security, America is waging a more effective fight against Al-Qaida’ while winding down the war in Iraq.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)