‘Mr.
President, Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and
gentlemen: we come together at a crossroads between war and peace;
between disorder and integration; between fear and hope.
‘Around
the globe, there are signposts of progress. The shadow of World War
that existed at the founding of this institution has been lifted; the
prospect of war between major powers reduced. The ranks of member states
has more than tripled, and more people live under governments they
elected. Hundreds of millions of human beings have been freed from the
prison of poverty, with the proportion of those living in extreme
poverty cut in half. And the world economy continues to strengthen after
the worst financial crisis of our lives.
‘Today,
whether you live in downtown New York or in my grandmother’s village
more than two hundred miles from Nairobi, you can hold in your hand more
information than the world’s greatest libraries. Together, we have
learned how to cure disease, and harness the power of the wind and sun.
The very existence of this institution is a unique achievement – the
people of the world committing to resolve their differences peacefully,
and solve their problems together. I often tell young people in the
United States that this is the best time in human history to be born,
for you are more likely than ever before to be literate, to be healthy,
and to be free to pursue your dreams.
‘And
yet there is a pervasive unease in our world – a sense that the very
forces that have brought us together have created new dangers, and made
it difficult for any single nation to insulate itself from global
forces. As we gather here, an outbreak of Ebola overwhelms public health
systems in West Africa, and threatens to move rapidly across borders.
Russian aggression in Europe recalls the days when large nations
trampled small ones in pursuit of territorial ambition. The brutality of
terrorists in Syria and Iraq forces us to look into the heart of
darkness.
‘Each
of these problems demands urgent attention. But they are also symptoms
of a broader problem – the failure of our international system to keep
pace with an interconnected world. We have not invested adequately in
the public health capacity of developing countries. Too often, we have
failed to enforce international norms when it’s inconvenient to do so.
And we have not confronted forcefully enough the intolerance,
sectarianism, and hopelessness that feeds violent extremism in too many
parts of the globe.
‘Fellow
delegates, we come together as United Nations with a choice to make. We
can renew the international system that has enabled so much progress,
or allow ourselves to be pulled back by an undertow of instability. We
can reaffirm our collective responsibility to confront global problems,
or be swamped by more and more outbreaks of instability. For America,
the choice is clear. We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as
something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the
better through concerted and collective effort. We reject fatalism or
cynicism when it comes to human affairs; we choose to work for the world
as it should be, as our children deserve it to be.
‘There
is much that must be done to meet the tests of this moment. But today
I’d like to focus on two defining questions at the root of many of our
challenges– whether the nations here today will be able to renew the
purpose of the UN’s founding; and whether we will come together to
reject the cancer of violent extremism.
‘First, all of us – big nations and small – must meet our responsibility to observe and enforce international norms.
‘We
are here because others realized that we gain more from cooperation
than conquest. One hundred years ago, a World War claimed the lives of
many millions, proving that with the terrible power of modern weaponry,
the cause of empire leads to the graveyard. It would take another World
War to roll back the forces of fascism and racial supremacy, and form
this United Nations to ensure that no nation can subjugate its neighbors
and claim their territory.
‘Russia’s
actions in Ukraine challenge this post-war order. Here are the facts.
After the people of Ukraine mobilized popular protests and calls for
reform, their corrupt President fled. Against the will of the government
in Kiev, Crimea was annexed. Russia poured arms into Eastern Ukraine,
fueling violent separatists and a conflict that has killed thousands.
When a civilian airliner was shot down from areas that these proxies
controlled, they refused to allow access to the crash for days. When
Ukraine started to reassert control over its territory, Russia gave up
the pretense of merely supporting the separatists, and moved troops
across the border.
‘This
is a vision of the world in which might makes right – a world in which
one nation’s borders can be redrawn by another, and civilized people are
not allowed to recover the remains of their loved ones because of the
truth that might be revealed. America stands for something different. We
believe that right makes might – that bigger nations should not be able
to bully smaller ones; that people should be able to choose their own
future.
‘These
are simple truths, but they must be defended. America and our allies
will support the people of Ukraine as they develop their democracy and
economy. We will reinforce our NATO allies, and uphold our commitment to
collective defense. We will impose a cost on Russia for aggression, and
counter falsehoods with the truth. We call upon others to join us on
the right side of history – for while small gains can be won at the
barrel of a gun, they will ultimately be turned back if enough voices
support the freedom of nations and peoples to make their own decisions.
‘Moreover,
a different path is available – the path of diplomacy and peace and the
ideals this institution is designed to uphold. The recent cease-fire
agreement in Ukraine offers an opening to achieve that objective. If
Russia takes that path – a path that for stretches of the post-Cold War
period resulted in prosperity for the Russian people – then we will lift
our sanctions and welcome Russia’s role in addressing common
challenges. That’s what the United States and Russia have been able to
do in past years – from reducing our nuclear stockpiles to meet our
obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to cooperating
to remove and destroy Syria’s declared chemical weapons. And that’s the
kind of cooperation we are prepared to pursue again—if Russia changes
course.
‘This
speaks to a central question of our global age: whether we will solve
our problems together, in a spirit of mutual interests and mutual
respect, or whether we descend into destructive rivalries of the past.
When nations find common ground, not simply based on power, but on
principle, then we can make enormous progress. And I stand before you
today committed to investing American strength in working with nations
to address the problems we face in the 21st century.
‘As
we speak, America is deploying our doctors and scientists – supported
by our military – to help contain the outbreak of Ebola and pursue new
treatments. But we need a broader effort to stop a disease that could
kill hundreds of thousands, inflict horrific suffering, destabilize
economies, and move rapidly across borders. It’s easy to see this as a
distant problem – until it isn’t. That is why we will continue
mobilizing other countries to join us in making concrete commitments to
fight this outbreak, and enhance global health security for the
long-term.
‘America
is pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, as
part of our commitment to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and pursue
the peace and security of a world without them. This can only happen if
Iran takes this historic opportunity. My message to Iran’s leaders and
people is simple: do not let this opportunity pass. We can reach a
solution that meets your energy needs while assuring the world that your
program is peaceful.
‘America
is and will continue to be a Pacific power, promoting peace, stability,
and the free flow of commerce among nations. But we will insist that
all nations abide by the rules of the road, and resolve their
territorial disputes peacefully, consistent with international law.
That’s how the Asia-Pacific has grown. And that’s the only way to
protect this progress going forward.
‘America
is committed to a development agenda that eradicates extreme poverty by
2030. We will do our part – to help people feed themselves; power their
economies; and care for their sick. If the world acts together, we can
make sure that all of our children can enjoy lives of opportunity and
dignity
‘America
is pursuing ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions, and we have
increased our investments in clean energy. We will do our part, and help
developing nations to do theirs. But we can only succeed in combating
climate change if we are joined in this effort by every major power.
That’s how we can protect this planet for our children and
grandchildren.
‘On
issue after issue, we cannot rely on a rule-book written for a
different century. If we lift our eyes beyond our borders – if we think
globally and act cooperatively – we can shape the course of this century
as our predecessors shaped the post-World War II age. But as we look to
the future, one issue risks a cycle of conflict that could derail such
progress: and that is the cancer of violent extremism that has ravaged
so many parts of the Muslim world.
‘Of
course, terrorism is not new. Speaking before this Assembly, President
Kennedy put it well: “Terror is not a new weapon,” he said. “Throughout
history it has been used by those who could not prevail, either by
persuasion or example.” In the 20th century, terror was used by all
manner of groups who failed to come to power through public support. But
in this century, we have faced a more lethal and ideological brand of
terrorists who have perverted one of the world’s great religions. With
access to technology that allows small groups to do great harm, they
have embraced a nightmarish vision that would divide the world into
adherents and infidels – killing as many innocent civilians as possible;
and employing the most brutal methods to intimidate people within their
communities.
‘I
have made it clear that America will not base our entire foreign policy
on reacting to terrorism. Rather, we have waged a focused campaign
against al Qaeda and its associated forces – taking out their leaders,
and denying them the safe-havens they rely upon. At the same time, we
have reaffirmed that the United States is not and never will be at war
with Islam. Islam teaches peace. Muslims the world over aspire to live
with dignity and a sense of justice. And when it comes to America and
Islam, there is no us and them – there is only us, because millions of
Muslim Americans are part of the fabric of our country.
‘So
we reject any suggestion of a clash of civilizations. Belief in
permanent religious war is the misguided refuge of extremists who cannot
build or create anything, and therefore peddle only fanaticism and
hate. And it is no exaggeration to say that humanity’s future depends on
us uniting against those who would divide us along fault lines of tribe
or sect; race or religion.
‘This
is not simply a matter of words. Collectively, we must take concrete
steps to address the danger posed by religiously motivated fanatics, and
the trends that fuel their recruitment. Moreover, this campaign against
extremism goes beyond a narrow security challenge. For while we have
methodically degraded core al Qaeda and supported a transition to a
sovereign Afghan government, extremist ideology has shifted to other
places – particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where a
quarter of young people have no job; food and water could grow scarce;
corruption is rampant; and sectarian conflicts have become increasingly
hard to contain.
‘As
an international community, we must meet this challenge with a focus on
four areas. First, the terrorist group known as ISIL must be degraded,
and ultimately destroyed.
‘This
group has terrorized all who they come across in Iraq and Syria.
Mothers, sisters and daughters have been subjected to rape as a weapon
of war. Innocent children have been gunned down. Bodies have been dumped
in mass graves. Religious minorities have been starved to death. In the
most horrific crimes imaginable, innocent human beings have been
beheaded, with videos of the atrocity distributed to shock the
conscience of the world.
‘No
God condones this terror. No grievance justifies these actions. There
can be no reasoning – no negotiation – with this brand of evil. The only
language understood by killers like this is the language of force. So
the United States of America will work with a broad coalition to
dismantle this network of death.
‘In
this effort, we do not act alone. Nor do we intend to send U.S. troops
to occupy foreign lands. Instead, we will support Iraqis and Syrians
fighting to reclaim their communities. We will use our military might in
a campaign of air strikes to roll back ISIL. We will train and equip
forces fighting against these terrorists on the ground. We will work to
cut off their financing, and to stop the flow of fighters into and out
of the region. Already, over 40 nations have offered to join this
coalition. Today, I ask the world to join in this effort. Those who have
joined ISIL should leave the battlefield while they can. Those who
continue to fight for a hateful cause will find they are increasingly
alone. For we will not succumb to threats; and we will demonstrate that
the future belongs to those who build – not those who destroy.
‘Second,
it is time for the world – especially Muslim communities – to
explicitly, forcefully, and consistently reject the ideology of al Qaeda
and ISIL.
‘It
is the task of all great religions to accommodate devout faith with a
modern, multicultural world. No children – anywhere – should be educated
to hate other people. There should be no more tolerance of so-called
clerics who call upon people to harm innocents because they are Jewish,
Christian or Muslim. It is time for a new compact among the civilized
peoples of this world to eradicate war at its most fundamental source:
the corruption of young minds by violent ideology.
‘That
means cutting off the funding that fuels this hate. It’s time to end
the hypocrisy of those who accumulate wealth through the global economy,
and then siphon funds to those who teach children to tear it down.
‘That
means contesting the space that terrorists occupy – including the
Internet and social media. Their propaganda has coerced young people to
travel abroad to fight their wars, and turned students into suicide
bombers. We must offer an alternative vision.
‘That
means bringing people of different faiths together. All religions have
been attacked by extremists from within at some point, and all people of
faith have a responsibility to lift up the value at the heart of all
religion: do unto thy neighbor as you would have done unto you.
‘The
ideology of ISIL or al Qaeda or Boko Haram will wilt and die if it is
consistently exposed, confronted, and refuted in the light of day. Look
at the new Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies – Sheikh bin
Bayyah described its purpose: “We must declare war on war, so the
outcome will be peace upon peace.” Look at the young British Muslims,
who responded to terrorist propaganda by starting the “notinmyname”
campaign, declaring – “ISIS is hiding behind a false Islam.” Look at the
Christian and Muslim leaders who came together in the Central African
Republic to reject violence – listen to the Imam who said, “Politics try
to divide the religious in our country, but religion shouldn’t be a
cause of hate, war, or strife.”
‘Later
today, the Security Council will adopt a resolution that underscores
the responsibility of states to counter violent extremism. But
resolutions must be followed by tangible commitments, so we’re
accountable when we fall short. Next year, we should all be prepared to
announce the concrete steps that we have taken to counter extremist
ideologies – by getting intolerance out of schools, stopping
radicalization before it spreads, and promoting institutions and
programs that build new bridges of understanding.
‘Third,
we must address the cycle of conflict – especially sectarian conflict –
that creates the conditions that terrorists prey upon.
‘There
is nothing new about wars within religions. Christianity endured
centuries of vicious sectarian conflict. Today, it is violence within
Muslim communities that has become the source of so much human misery.
It is time to acknowledge the destruction wrought by proxy wars and
terror campaigns between Sunni and Shia across the Middle East. And it
is time that political, civic and religious leaders reject sectarian
strife. Let’s be clear: this is a fight that no one is winning. A brutal
civil war in Syria has already killed nearly 200,000 people and
displaced millions. Iraq has come perilously close to plunging back into
the abyss. The conflict has created a fertile recruiting ground for
terrorists who inevitably export this violence.
‘Yet,
we also see signs that this tide could be reversed – a new, inclusive
government in Baghdad; a new Iraqi Prime Minister welcomed by his
neighbors; Lebanese factions rejecting those who try to provoke war.
These steps must be followed by a broader truce. Nowhere is this more
necessary than Syria. Together with our partners, America is training
and equipping the Syrian opposition to be a counterweight to the
terrorists of ISIL and the brutality of the Assad regime. But the only
lasting solution to Syria’s civil war is political – an inclusive
political transition that responds to the legitimate aspirations of all
Syrian citizens, regardless of ethnicity or creed.
‘Cynics
may argue that such an outcome can never come to pass. But there is no
other way for this madness to end – whether one year from now or ten.
Indeed, it’s time for a broader negotiation in which major powers
address their differences directly, honestly, and peacefully across the
table from one another, rather than through gun-wielding proxies. I can
promise you America will remain engaged in the region, and we are
prepared to engage in that effort.
‘My
fourth and final point is a simple one: the countries of the Arab and
Muslim world must focus on the extraordinary potential of their people –
especially the youth.
‘Here
I’d like to speak directly to young people across the Muslim world. You
come from a great tradition that stands for education, not ignorance;
innovation, not destruction; the dignity of life, not murder. Those who
call you away from this path are betraying this tradition, not defending
it.
‘You
have demonstrated that when young people have the tools to succeed
–good schools; education in math and science; an economy that nurtures
creativity and entrepreneurship – then societies will flourish. So
America will partner with those who promote that vision.
‘Where
women are full participants in a country’s politics or economy,
societies are more likely to succeed. That’s why we support the
participation of women in parliaments and in peace processes; in schools
and the economy.
‘If
young people live in places where the only option is between the
dictates of a state, or the lure of an extremist underground – no
counter-terrorism strategy can succeed. But where a genuine civil
society is allowed to flourish – where people can express their views,
and organize peacefully for a better life – then you dramatically expand
the alternatives to terror.
‘Such
positive change need not come at the expense of tradition and faith. We
see this in Iraq, where a young man started a library for his peers.
“We link Iraq’s heritage to their hearts,” he said, and “give them a
reason to stay.” We see it in Tunisia, where secular and Islamist
parties worked together through a political process to produce a new
constitution. We see it in Senegal, where civil society thrives
alongside a strong, democratic government. We see it in Malaysia, where
vibrant entrepreneurship is propelling a former colony into the ranks of
advanced economies. And we see it in Indonesia, where what began as a
violent transition has evolved into a genuine democracy.
‘Ultimately,
the task of rejecting sectarianism and extremism is a generational task
– a task for the people of the Middle East themselves. No external
power can bring about a transformation of hearts and minds. But America
will be a respectful and constructive partner. We will neither tolerate
terrorist safe-havens, nor act as an occupying power. Instead, we will
take action against threats to our security – and our allies – while
building an architecture of counter-terrorism cooperation. We will
increase efforts to lift up those who counter extremist ideology, and
seek to resolve sectarian conflict. And we will expand our programs to
support entrepreneurship, civil society, education and youth – because,
ultimately, these investments are the best antidote to violence.
‘Leadership
will also be necessary to address the conflict between Palestinians and
Israelis. As bleak as the landscape appears, America will never give up
the pursuit of peace. The situation in Iraq, Syria and Libya should
cure anyone of the illusion that this conflict is the main source of
problems in the region; for far too long, it has been used in part as a
way to distract people from problems at home. And the violence engulfing
the region today has made too many Israelis ready to abandon the hard
work of peace. But let’s be clear: the status quo in the West Bank and
Gaza is not sustainable. We cannot afford to turn away from this effort –
not when rockets are fired at innocent Israelis, or the lives of so
many Palestinian children are taken from us in Gaza. So long as I am
President, we will stand up for the principle that Israelis,
Palestinians, the region, and the world will be more just with two
states living side by side, in peace and security.
‘This
is what America is prepared to do – taking action against immediate
threats, while pursuing a world in which the need for such action is
diminished. The United States will never shy away from defending our
interests, but nor will we shrink from the promise of this institution
and its Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the notion that peace is
not merely the absence of war, but the presence of a better life.
‘I
realize that America’s critics will be quick to point out that at times
we too have failed to live up to our ideals; that America has plenty of
problems within our own borders. This is true. In a summer marked by
instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I know the world also
took notice of the small American city of Ferguson, Missouri – where a
young man was killed, and a community was divided. So yes, we have our
own racial and ethnic tensions. And like every country, we continually
wrestle with how to reconcile the vast changes wrought by globalization
and greater diversity with the traditions that we hold dear.
‘But
we welcome the scrutiny of the world – because what you see in America
is a country that has steadily worked to address our problems and make
our union more perfect. America is not the same as it was 100 years ago,
50 years ago, or even a decade ago. Because we fight for our ideals,
and are willing to criticize ourselves when we fall short. Because we
hold our leaders accountable, and insist on a free press and independent
judiciary. Because we address our differences in the open space of
democracy – with respect for the rule of law; with a place for people of
every race and religion; and with an unyielding belief in the ability
of individual men and women to change their communities and countries
for the better.
‘After
nearly six years as President, I believe that this promise can help
light the world. Because I’ve seen a longing for positive change – for
peace and freedom and opportunity – in the eyes of young people I’ve met
around the globe. They remind me that no matter who you are, or where
you come from, or what you look like, or what God you pray to, or who
you love, there is something fundamental that we all share. Eleanor
Roosevelt, a champion of the UN and America’s role in it, once asked,
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places,”
she said, “close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be
seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual
person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends;
the factory, farm or office where he works.”
‘The
people of the world look to us, here, to be as decent, as dignified,
and as courageous as they are in their daily lives. And at this
crossroads, I can promise you that the United States of America will not
be distracted or deterred from what must be done. We are heirs to a
proud legacy of freedom, and we are prepared to do what is necessary to
secure that legacy for generations to come. Join us in this common
mission, for today’s children and tomorrow’s.’
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
No comments:
Post a Comment