OBAMA REPEATS CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST SYRIA
New York, 19 Dzul Qai’dah 1434/25 September 2013 (MINA) – The United States President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that there must be strong UN resolution to verify Assad regime keeps its commitments, urging for an international ban on chemical weapons.
Addressing the delegates during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations (UN) in New York, Obama pointed out that things didn’t go well for the United States in Iraq and says the US has a “hard-earned humility” from the experience.
Obama argued that international community must enforce the ban on chemical weapons in Syria, pushing for a “strong UN resolution to verify Assad regime keeps its commitments,” he said neither America nor another country should decide who will lead Syria.
US President added that Iraq showed US that democracy cannot be imposed by force. Obama described the US policy as turning on two particular issues: Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the Arab-Israeli conflict, Anadolu Agency reported as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
Regarding Syria, Obama stated that US is ready to everything including “military force to keep its core interests in the region.” Turning to Iran, Obama noted that “we are not seeking regime change” in Iran despite its nuclear program. “It is the Iranian government’s choices that have led to the sanctions that are in place,” he argued.
He urged that mutual action to eliminate nuclear weapons of Iran must proceed in “transparent and verifiable” way, calling on the international community to support Israeli and Palestinian leaders in their hard walk to peace. On a two-state solution for peace in the Middle East , he said “Just as the Palestinian people must not be displaced, the state of Israel is here to stay.”
Obama also touched upon the recent developments in Egypt, saying “The United States purposely avoided choosing sides in Egypt’s military intervention. “Mohamed Morsi was democratically elected but proved unwilling or unable to govern in a way that was fully inclusive,” Obama stated.
US President noted that they “rejected the notion that these principles (democracy, etc.) are western exports incompatible with Islam or the Arab world. We will be engaged in the region for the long haul.”
“The United States has ‘a hard-earned humility when it comes to our ability to’ determine events inside other countries,” he added. Obama concluded his speech, saying the international intervention in Libya saved lives, prior to possible intervention in Syria. (T/P04/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
