English subtitles for clip: File:President Barack Obama addressing the 2010 UN General Assembly on 2010-09-23.ogv
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1 00:00:01,165 --> 00:00:08,166 Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, my fellow delegates, 2 00:00:08,166 --> 00:00:10,500 ladies and gentlemen. 3 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,900 It is a great honor to address this Assembly for the second 4 00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:18,500 time, nearly two years after my election as President of 5 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:21,899 the United States. 6 00:00:21,899 --> 00:00:26,866 We know this is no ordinary time for our people. 7 00:00:26,867 --> 00:00:32,533 Each of us comes here with our own problems and priorities. 8 00:00:32,533 --> 00:00:36,265 But there are also challenges that we share in common as 9 00:00:36,265 --> 00:00:40,599 leaders and as nations. 10 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:46,933 We meet within an institution built from the rubble of war, 11 00:00:46,933 --> 00:00:51,699 designed to unite the world in pursuit of peace. 12 00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:56,800 And we meet within a city that for centuries has welcomed 13 00:00:56,799 --> 00:01:02,099 people from across the globe, demonstrating that individuals 14 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:07,033 of every color, faith and station can come together to 15 00:01:07,033 --> 00:01:12,466 pursue opportunity, build a community, and live with the 16 00:01:12,466 --> 00:01:16,834 blessing of human liberty. 17 00:01:16,834 --> 00:01:21,900 Outside the doors of this hall, the blocks and neighborhoods of 18 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:29,166 this great city tell the story of a difficult decade. 19 00:01:29,165 --> 00:01:34,000 Nine years ago, the destruction of the World Trade Center 20 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,033 signaled a threat that respected no boundary of 21 00:01:37,033 --> 00:01:40,632 dignity or decency. 22 00:01:40,632 --> 00:01:44,632 Two years ago this month, a financial crisis on Wall 23 00:01:44,632 --> 00:01:51,099 Street devastated American families on Main Street. 24 00:01:51,099 --> 00:01:56,632 These separate challenges have affected people around the globe. 25 00:01:56,632 --> 00:01:59,667 Men and women and children have been murdered by extremists from 26 00:01:59,667 --> 00:02:05,966 Casablanca to London; from Jalalabad to Jakarta. 27 00:02:05,966 --> 00:02:09,332 The global economy suffered an enormous blow during the 28 00:02:09,332 --> 00:02:14,300 financial crisis, crippling markets and deferring the dreams 29 00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:19,066 of millions on every continent. 30 00:02:19,066 --> 00:02:23,099 Underneath these challenges to our security and prosperity lie 31 00:02:23,099 --> 00:02:27,900 deeper fears: that ancient hatreds and religious divides 32 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:32,432 are once again ascendant; that a world which has grown more 33 00:02:32,432 --> 00:02:39,265 interconnected has somehow slipped beyond our control. 34 00:02:39,265 --> 00:02:41,466 These are some of the challenges that my administration has 35 00:02:41,467 --> 00:02:44,667 confronted since we came into office. 36 00:02:44,667 --> 00:02:47,033 And today, I'd like to talk to you about what we've done over 37 00:02:47,032 --> 00:02:50,566 the last 20 months to meet these challenges; 38 00:02:50,567 --> 00:02:55,300 what our responsibility is to pursue peace in the Middle East; 39 00:02:55,300 --> 00:03:01,900 and what kind of world we are trying to build in this 21st century. 40 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:05,300 Let me begin with what we have done. 41 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:09,066 I have had no greater focus as President than 42 00:03:09,066 --> 00:03:13,432 rescuing our economy from potential catastrophe. 43 00:03:13,432 --> 00:03:19,667 And in an age when prosperity is shared, we could not do this alone. 44 00:03:19,667 --> 00:03:22,633 So America has joined with nations around the world to spur 45 00:03:22,633 --> 00:03:29,165 growth, and the renewed demand that could restart job creation. 46 00:03:29,165 --> 00:03:32,933 We are reforming our system of global finance, 47 00:03:32,933 --> 00:03:36,332 beginning with Wall Street reform here at home, 48 00:03:36,332 --> 00:03:39,900 so that a crisis like this never happens again. 49 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:44,165 And we made the G20 the focal point for international 50 00:03:44,165 --> 00:03:49,800 coordination, because in a world where prosperity is more 51 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:55,433 diffuse, we must broaden our circle of cooperation to include 52 00:03:55,432 --> 00:04:01,532 emerging economies -- economies from every corner of the globe. 53 00:04:01,532 --> 00:04:04,733 There is much to show for our efforts, even as there is much 54 00:04:04,734 --> 00:04:07,165 work to be done. 55 00:04:07,165 --> 00:04:09,699 The global economy has been pulled back from the brink 56 00:04:09,699 --> 00:04:13,599 of a depression, and is growing once more. 57 00:04:13,599 --> 00:04:18,533 We have resisted protectionism, and are exploring ways to expand 58 00:04:18,533 --> 00:04:22,867 trade and commerce among nations. 59 00:04:22,867 --> 00:04:27,066 But we cannot -- and will not -- rest until these seeds of 60 00:04:27,065 --> 00:04:31,232 progress grow into a broader prosperity, not only for all 61 00:04:31,233 --> 00:04:36,834 Americans, but for peoples around the globe. 62 00:04:36,834 --> 00:04:40,966 As for our common security, America is waging a more 63 00:04:40,966 --> 00:04:44,632 effective fight against al Qaeda, while winding down 64 00:04:44,632 --> 00:04:48,065 the war in Iraq. 65 00:04:48,065 --> 00:04:50,566 Since I took office, the United States has removed 66 00:04:50,567 --> 00:04:54,867 nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq. 67 00:04:54,867 --> 00:04:58,800 We have done so responsibly, as Iraqis have transitioned to 68 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,734 lead responsibility for the security of their country. 69 00:05:03,733 --> 00:05:06,733 We are now focused on building a lasting partnership with the 70 00:05:06,733 --> 00:05:11,165 Iraqi people, while keeping our commitment to remove the rest of 71 00:05:11,165 --> 00:05:16,233 our troops by the end of next year. 72 00:05:16,233 --> 00:05:21,132 While drawing down in Iraq, we have refocused on defeating 73 00:05:21,132 --> 00:05:25,866 al Qaeda and denying its affiliates a safe haven. 74 00:05:25,867 --> 00:05:28,600 In Afghanistan, the United States and our allies are 75 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:32,400 pursuing a strategy to break the Taliban's momentum and build the 76 00:05:32,399 --> 00:05:36,366 capacity of Afghanistan's government and security forces, 77 00:05:36,367 --> 00:05:40,333 so that a transition to Afghan responsibility can 78 00:05:40,333 --> 00:05:43,734 begin next July. 79 00:05:43,733 --> 00:05:47,866 And from South Asia to the Horn of Africa, we are moving toward 80 00:05:47,867 --> 00:05:53,066 a more targeted approach -- one that strengthens our partners 81 00:05:53,065 --> 00:05:56,132 and dismantles terrorist networks without deploying 82 00:05:56,132 --> 00:06:00,366 large American armies. 83 00:06:00,367 --> 00:06:04,834 As we pursue the world's most dangerous extremists, we're also 84 00:06:04,834 --> 00:06:08,667 denying them the world's most dangerous weapons, and pursuing 85 00:06:08,666 --> 00:06:14,866 the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. 86 00:06:14,867 --> 00:06:18,934 Earlier this year, 47 nations embraced a work-plan to secure 87 00:06:18,934 --> 00:06:25,133 all vulnerable nuclear materials within four years. 88 00:06:25,132 --> 00:06:28,299 We have joined with Russia to sign the most comprehensive 89 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:32,734 arms control treaty in decades. 90 00:06:32,733 --> 00:06:35,532 We have reduced the role of nuclear weapons in 91 00:06:35,533 --> 00:06:38,667 our security strategy. 92 00:06:38,666 --> 00:06:41,399 And here, at the United Nations, we came together 93 00:06:41,399 --> 00:06:47,132 to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 94 00:06:47,132 --> 00:06:52,632 As part of our effort on non-proliferation, I offered 95 00:06:52,632 --> 00:06:57,866 the Islamic Republic of Iran an extended hand last year, 96 00:06:57,867 --> 00:07:02,967 and underscored that it has both rights and responsibilities 97 00:07:02,966 --> 00:07:07,532 as a member of the international community. 98 00:07:07,533 --> 00:07:10,934 I also said -- in this hall -- that Iran must be held 99 00:07:10,934 --> 00:07:15,400 accountable if it failed to meet those responsibilities. 100 00:07:15,399 --> 00:07:18,566 And that is what we have done. 101 00:07:18,567 --> 00:07:23,766 Iran is the only party to the NPT that cannot demonstrate 102 00:07:23,766 --> 00:07:27,367 the peaceful intentions of its nuclear program, 103 00:07:27,367 --> 00:07:30,567 and those actions have consequences. 104 00:07:30,567 --> 00:07:33,900 Through U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929, 105 00:07:33,899 --> 00:07:35,532 we made it clear that international law is 106 00:07:35,533 --> 00:07:39,533 not an empty promise. 107 00:07:39,533 --> 00:07:42,367 Now let me be clear once more: The United States and the 108 00:07:42,367 --> 00:07:46,367 international community seek a resolution to our differences 109 00:07:46,367 --> 00:07:51,000 with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran 110 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,899 choose to walk through it. 111 00:07:53,899 --> 00:07:56,532 But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible 112 00:07:56,533 --> 00:08:01,000 commitment and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of 113 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,733 its nuclear program. 114 00:08:04,733 --> 00:08:09,065 As we combat the spread of deadly weapons, we're also 115 00:08:09,065 --> 00:08:12,933 confronting the specter of climate change. 116 00:08:12,934 --> 00:08:15,033 After making historic investments in clean 117 00:08:15,033 --> 00:08:18,734 energy and efficiency at home, we helped forge an accord in 118 00:08:18,733 --> 00:08:21,099 Copenhagen that -- for the first time -- 119 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:26,800 commits all major economies to reduce their emissions. 120 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,033 We are keenly aware this is just a first step. 121 00:08:30,033 --> 00:08:32,366 And going forward, we will support a process in which 122 00:08:32,366 --> 00:08:35,632 all major economies meet our responsibilities to protect 123 00:08:35,633 --> 00:08:39,466 the planet while unleashing the power of clean energy to 124 00:08:39,466 --> 00:08:44,633 serve as an engine of growth and development. 125 00:08:44,633 --> 00:08:48,033 America has also embraced unique responsibilities with come -- 126 00:08:48,033 --> 00:08:50,633 that come with our power. 127 00:08:50,633 --> 00:08:54,166 Since the rains came and the floodwaters rose in Pakistan, 128 00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:57,667 we have pledged our assistance, and we should all support the 129 00:08:57,667 --> 00:09:02,233 Pakistani people as they recover and rebuild. 130 00:09:02,232 --> 00:09:07,132 And when the earth shook and Haiti was devastated by loss, 131 00:09:07,133 --> 00:09:12,133 we joined a coalition of nations in response. 132 00:09:12,133 --> 00:09:17,233 Today, we honor those from the U.N. family who lost their lives 133 00:09:17,232 --> 00:09:20,466 in the earthquake, and commit ourselves to stand with the 134 00:09:20,466 --> 00:09:27,265 people of Haiti until they can stand on their own two feet. 135 00:09:27,265 --> 00:09:32,733 Amidst this upheaval, we have also been persistent 136 00:09:32,734 --> 00:09:36,834 in our pursuit of peace. 137 00:09:36,833 --> 00:09:42,265 Last year, I pledged my best efforts to support the goal 138 00:09:42,265 --> 00:09:48,599 of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side 139 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:53,100 in peace and security, as part of a comprehensive peace between 140 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:57,633 Israel and all of its neighbors. 141 00:09:57,633 --> 00:10:01,466 We have travelled a winding road over the last 12 months, with 142 00:10:01,466 --> 00:10:05,332 few peaks and many valleys. 143 00:10:05,332 --> 00:10:08,833 But this month, I am pleased that we have pursued direct 144 00:10:08,833 --> 00:10:13,332 negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians in Washington, 145 00:10:13,332 --> 00:10:17,699 Sharm el Sheikh and Jerusalem. 146 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:23,600 Now I recognize many are pessimistic about this process. 147 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,432 The cynics say that Israelis and Palestinians are too distrustful 148 00:10:27,432 --> 00:10:31,066 of each other, and too divided internally, 149 00:10:31,066 --> 00:10:35,300 to forge lasting peace. 150 00:10:35,299 --> 00:10:40,332 Rejectionists on both sides will try to disrupt the process, 151 00:10:40,332 --> 00:10:47,632 with bitter words and with bombs and with gunfire. 152 00:10:47,633 --> 00:10:51,600 Some say that the gaps between the parties are too big; the 153 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,800 potential for talks to break down is too great; and that 154 00:10:54,799 --> 00:11:01,399 after decades of failure, peace is simply not possible. 155 00:11:01,399 --> 00:11:06,265 I hear those voices of skepticism. 156 00:11:06,265 --> 00:11:11,733 But I ask you to consider the alternative. 157 00:11:11,734 --> 00:11:16,233 If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know 158 00:11:16,232 --> 00:11:21,065 the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. 159 00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:25,000 Israelis will never know the certainty and security that 160 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,000 comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are 161 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,133 committed to coexistence. 162 00:11:32,133 --> 00:11:36,500 The hard realities of demography will take hold. 163 00:11:36,500 --> 00:11:38,232 More blood will be shed. 164 00:11:38,232 --> 00:11:42,599 This Holy Land will remain a symbol of our differences, 165 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,466 instead of our common humanity. 166 00:11:47,466 --> 00:11:51,000 I refuse to accept that future. 167 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,000 And we all have a choice to make. 168 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,466 Each of us must choose the path of peace. 169 00:11:58,466 --> 00:12:01,265 Of course, that responsibility begins with the parties 170 00:12:01,265 --> 00:12:06,733 themselves, who must answer the call of history. 171 00:12:06,734 --> 00:12:10,367 Earlier this month at the White House, I was struck by the words 172 00:12:10,366 --> 00:12:14,232 of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. 173 00:12:14,232 --> 00:12:18,500 Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "I came here today to find a 174 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:22,966 historic compromise that will enable both people to live in 175 00:12:22,966 --> 00:12:27,332 peace, security, and dignity." 176 00:12:27,332 --> 00:12:30,265 And President Abbas said, "We will spare no effort and we will 177 00:12:30,265 --> 00:12:33,933 work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these negotiations 178 00:12:33,933 --> 00:12:38,033 achieve their cause." 179 00:12:38,033 --> 00:12:42,033 These words must now be followed by action and I 180 00:12:42,033 --> 00:12:46,600 believe that both leaders have the courage to do so. 181 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:51,933 But the road that they have to travel is exceedingly difficult, 182 00:12:51,933 --> 00:12:56,966 which is why I call upon Israelis and Palestinians 183 00:12:56,966 --> 00:13:00,466 -- and the world -- to rally behind the goal that these 184 00:13:00,466 --> 00:13:04,432 leaders now share. 185 00:13:04,432 --> 00:13:08,100 We know that there will be tests along the way and that one test 186 00:13:08,100 --> 00:13:10,633 is fast approaching. 187 00:13:10,633 --> 00:13:13,200 Israel's settlement moratorium has made a difference on the 188 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,700 ground and improved the atmosphere for talks. 189 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:20,834 And our position on this issue is well known. 190 00:13:20,833 --> 00:13:23,899 We believe that the moratorium should be extended. 191 00:13:23,899 --> 00:13:30,432 We also believe that talks should press on until completed. 192 00:13:30,432 --> 00:13:33,600 Now is the time for the parties to help each other 193 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,466 overcome this obstacle. 194 00:13:36,466 --> 00:13:38,833 Now is the time to build the trust -- 195 00:13:38,833 --> 00:13:43,500 and provide the time -- for substantial progress to be made. 196 00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:46,899 Now is the time for this opportunity to be seized, 197 00:13:46,899 --> 00:13:51,632 so that it does not slip away. 198 00:13:51,633 --> 00:13:55,033 Now, peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but 199 00:13:55,033 --> 00:14:00,332 each of us has a responsibility to do our part as well. 200 00:14:00,332 --> 00:14:03,332 Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that 201 00:14:03,332 --> 00:14:06,500 true security for the Jewish state requires an independent 202 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:10,299 Palestine -- one that allows the Palestinian people to live with 203 00:14:10,299 --> 00:14:14,432 dignity and opportunity. 204 00:14:14,432 --> 00:14:16,899 And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must 205 00:14:16,899 --> 00:14:20,466 understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be 206 00:14:20,466 --> 00:14:23,633 won only through peaceful means -- 207 00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:29,767 including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel. 208 00:14:29,767 --> 00:14:31,900 I know many in this hall count themselves as friends 209 00:14:31,899 --> 00:14:35,066 of the Palestinians. 210 00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:40,966 But these pledges of friendship must now be supported by deeds. 211 00:14:40,966 --> 00:14:44,432 Those who have signed on to the Arab Peace Initiative should 212 00:14:44,432 --> 00:14:47,899 seize this opportunity to make it real by taking tangible steps 213 00:14:47,899 --> 00:14:52,699 towards the normalization that it promises Israel. 214 00:14:52,700 --> 00:14:58,233 And those who speak on behalf of Palestinian self-government 215 00:14:58,232 --> 00:15:00,699 should help the Palestinian Authority politically and 216 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:04,233 financially, and in doing so help the Palestinians build 217 00:15:04,232 --> 00:15:09,599 the institutions of their state. 218 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,867 Those who long to see an independent Palestine must 219 00:15:14,866 --> 00:15:19,966 also stop trying to tear down Israel. 220 00:15:19,966 --> 00:15:24,066 After thousands of years, Jews and Arabs are not strangers 221 00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:27,533 in a strange land. 222 00:15:27,533 --> 00:15:30,100 After 60 years in the community of nations, 223 00:15:30,100 --> 00:15:35,166 Israel's existence must not be a subject for debate. 224 00:15:35,166 --> 00:15:38,834 Israel is a sovereign state, and the historic homeland of 225 00:15:38,833 --> 00:15:41,599 the Jewish people. 226 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,899 It should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at Israel's 227 00:15:44,899 --> 00:15:48,899 legitimacy will only be met by the unshakeable opposition of 228 00:15:48,899 --> 00:15:51,232 the United States. 229 00:15:51,232 --> 00:15:54,599 And efforts to threaten or kill Israelis will do nothing to help 230 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,500 the Palestinian people. 231 00:15:57,500 --> 00:16:01,166 The slaughter of innocent Israelis is not resistance 232 00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:04,367 -- it's injustice. 233 00:16:04,366 --> 00:16:09,132 And make no mistake: The courage of a man like President Abbas, 234 00:16:09,133 --> 00:16:12,300 who stands up for his people in front of the world under very 235 00:16:12,299 --> 00:16:15,065 difficult circumstances, is far greater than those who 236 00:16:15,066 --> 00:16:21,367 fire rockets at innocent women and children. 237 00:16:21,366 --> 00:16:26,199 The conflict between Israelis and Arabs is as old as this institution. 238 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,000 And we can come back here next year, as we have for the last 239 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:33,366 60 years, and make long speeches about it. 240 00:16:33,366 --> 00:16:36,299 We can read familiar lists of grievances. 241 00:16:36,299 --> 00:16:40,065 We can table the same resolutions. 242 00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:44,399 We can further empower the forces of rejectionism and hate. 243 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:46,667 And we can waste more time by carrying forward an argument 244 00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:50,432 that will not help a single Israeli or Palestinian child 245 00:16:50,432 --> 00:16:52,332 achieve a better life. 246 00:16:52,332 --> 00:16:55,432 We can do that. 247 00:16:55,432 --> 00:16:58,866 Or, we can say that this time will be different -- 248 00:16:58,866 --> 00:17:00,899 that this time we will not let terror, 249 00:17:00,899 --> 00:17:04,799 or turbulence, or posturing, or petty politics stand in the way. 250 00:17:04,799 --> 00:17:09,299 This time, we will think not of ourselves, but of the young girl 251 00:17:09,299 --> 00:17:15,332 in Gaza who wants to have no ceiling on her dreams, or the 252 00:17:15,333 --> 00:17:19,133 young boy in Sderot who wants to sleep without the nightmare 253 00:17:19,133 --> 00:17:22,299 of rocket fire. 254 00:17:22,299 --> 00:17:24,633 This time, we should draw upon the teachings of tolerance that 255 00:17:24,633 --> 00:17:29,866 lie at the heart of three great religions that see Jerusalem's 256 00:17:29,866 --> 00:17:32,232 soil as sacred. 257 00:17:32,232 --> 00:17:36,165 This time we should reach for what's best within ourselves. 258 00:17:36,165 --> 00:17:40,032 If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an 259 00:17:40,032 --> 00:17:43,332 agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations 260 00:17:43,333 --> 00:17:46,700 -- an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living 261 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:48,600 in peace with Israel. 262 00:17:48,599 --> 00:18:03,399 (applause) 263 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:08,266 It is our destiny to bear the burdens of the challenges that 264 00:18:08,266 --> 00:18:15,100 I've addressed -- recession and war and conflict. 265 00:18:15,099 --> 00:18:16,666 And there is always a sense of urgency -- 266 00:18:16,666 --> 00:18:22,032 even emergency -- that drives most of our foreign policies. 267 00:18:22,032 --> 00:18:25,866 Indeed, after millennia marked by wars, this very institution 268 00:18:25,866 --> 00:18:29,399 reflects the desire of human beings to create a forum to deal 269 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:34,600 with emergencies that will inevitably come. 270 00:18:34,599 --> 00:18:38,299 But even as we confront immediate challenges, we must 271 00:18:38,299 --> 00:18:42,000 also summon the foresight to look beyond them, and consider 272 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,165 what we are trying to build over the long term? 273 00:18:45,165 --> 00:18:48,432 What is the world that awaits us when today's battles are brought 274 00:18:48,432 --> 00:18:50,799 to an end? 275 00:18:50,799 --> 00:18:52,767 And that is what I would like to talk about with the remainder of 276 00:18:52,767 --> 00:18:56,266 my time today. 277 00:18:56,266 --> 00:19:01,600 One of the first actions of this General Assembly was to adopt a 278 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:07,265 Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. 279 00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:10,933 That Declaration begins by stating that, "recognition of 280 00:19:10,933 --> 00:19:15,633 the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of 281 00:19:15,633 --> 00:19:19,767 all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, 282 00:19:19,767 --> 00:19:24,165 justice, and peace in the world." 283 00:19:24,165 --> 00:19:28,466 The idea is a simple one -- that freedom, justice and peace 284 00:19:28,467 --> 00:19:30,667 for the world must begin with freedom, justice, 285 00:19:30,666 --> 00:19:37,466 and peace in the lives of individual human beings. 286 00:19:37,467 --> 00:19:40,500 And for the United States, this is a matter of moral 287 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:44,432 and pragmatic necessity. 288 00:19:44,432 --> 00:19:49,834 As Robert Kennedy said, "the individual man, the child of 289 00:19:49,834 --> 00:19:57,633 God, is the touchstone of value, and all society, groups, the 290 00:19:57,633 --> 00:20:03,299 state, exist for his benefit." 291 00:20:03,299 --> 00:20:06,299 So we stand up for universal values because it's the right 292 00:20:06,299 --> 00:20:09,733 thing to do. 293 00:20:09,733 --> 00:20:13,265 But we also know from experience that those who defend these 294 00:20:13,266 --> 00:20:16,734 values for their people have been our closest friends and 295 00:20:16,733 --> 00:20:22,232 allies, while those who have denied those rights -- 296 00:20:22,232 --> 00:20:25,933 whether terrorist groups or tyrannical governments -- 297 00:20:25,933 --> 00:20:31,899 have chosen to be our adversaries. 298 00:20:31,900 --> 00:20:34,300 Human rights have never gone unchallenged -- 299 00:20:34,299 --> 00:20:39,799 not in any of our nations, and not in our world. 300 00:20:39,799 --> 00:20:43,066 Tyranny is still with us -- whether it manifests itself in 301 00:20:43,066 --> 00:20:47,600 the Taliban killing girls who try to go to school, a North 302 00:20:47,599 --> 00:20:52,466 Korean regime that enslaves its own people, or an armed group in 303 00:20:52,467 --> 00:21:00,700 Congo-Kinshasa that use rape as a weapon of war. 304 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:05,600 In times of economic unease, there can also be an anxiety 305 00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:08,366 about human rights. 306 00:21:08,366 --> 00:21:11,332 Today, as in past times of economic downturn, some put 307 00:21:11,333 --> 00:21:15,900 human rights aside for the promise of short term stability 308 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:18,767 or the false notion that economic growth can come 309 00:21:18,767 --> 00:21:22,333 at the expense of freedom. 310 00:21:22,333 --> 00:21:25,700 We see leaders abolishing term limits. 311 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:28,432 We see crackdowns on civil society. 312 00:21:28,432 --> 00:21:30,799 We see corruption smothering entrepreneurship 313 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:33,099 and good governance. 314 00:21:33,099 --> 00:21:39,265 We see democratic reforms deferred indefinitely. 315 00:21:39,266 --> 00:21:43,767 As I said last year, each country will pursue a path 316 00:21:43,767 --> 00:21:48,799 rooted in the culture of its own people. 317 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:52,099 Yet experience shows us that history is on the side of 318 00:21:52,099 --> 00:21:56,366 liberty; that the strongest foundation for human progress 319 00:21:56,366 --> 00:22:02,567 lies in open economies, open societies, and open governments. 320 00:22:02,567 --> 00:22:06,333 To put it simply, democracy, more than any other form of 321 00:22:06,333 --> 00:22:11,233 government, delivers for our citizens. 322 00:22:11,232 --> 00:22:13,899 And I believe that truth will only grow stronger in a world 323 00:22:13,900 --> 00:22:20,233 where the borders between nations are blurred. 324 00:22:20,232 --> 00:22:22,700 America is working to shape a world that fosters this 325 00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:27,432 openness, for the rot of a closed or corrupt economy must 326 00:22:27,432 --> 00:22:34,200 never eclipse the energy and innovation of human beings. 327 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,500 All of us want the right to educate our children, to make 328 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:40,767 a decent wage, to care for the sick, and to be carried as far 329 00:22:40,767 --> 00:22:43,333 as our dreams and our deeds will take us. 330 00:22:43,333 --> 00:22:45,767 But that depends upon economies that tap the power of our 331 00:22:45,767 --> 00:22:50,900 people, including the potential of women and girls. 332 00:22:50,900 --> 00:22:53,300 That means letting entrepreneurs start a business without paying 333 00:22:53,299 --> 00:22:56,933 a bribe and governments that support opportunity instead 334 00:22:56,933 --> 00:23:00,700 of stealing from their people. 335 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:03,333 And that means rewarding hard work, instead of 336 00:23:03,333 --> 00:23:07,500 reckless risk-taking. 337 00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:11,066 Yesterday, I put forward a new development policy that will 338 00:23:11,066 --> 00:23:16,200 pursue these goals, recognizing that dignity is a human right 339 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:20,100 and global development is in our common interest. 340 00:23:20,099 --> 00:23:22,532 America will partner with nations that offer their 341 00:23:22,532 --> 00:23:26,232 people a path out of poverty. 342 00:23:26,232 --> 00:23:30,032 And together, we must unleash growth that powers by 343 00:23:30,032 --> 00:23:37,032 individuals and emerging markets in all parts of the globe. 344 00:23:37,032 --> 00:23:41,299 There is no reason why Africa should not be an exporter of 345 00:23:41,299 --> 00:23:45,432 agriculture, which is why our food security initiative is 346 00:23:45,432 --> 00:23:48,299 empowering farmers. 347 00:23:48,299 --> 00:23:50,432 There is no reason why entrepreneurs shouldn't be able 348 00:23:50,432 --> 00:23:53,467 to build new markets in every society, which is why I hosted 349 00:23:53,467 --> 00:23:58,767 a summit on entrepreneurship earlier this spring, 350 00:23:58,767 --> 00:24:01,000 because the obligation of government is to empower 351 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,299 individuals, not to impede them. 352 00:24:05,299 --> 00:24:09,432 The same holds true for civil society. 353 00:24:09,432 --> 00:24:13,133 The arc of human progress has been shaped by individuals with 354 00:24:13,133 --> 00:24:16,165 the freedom to assemble and by organizations outside of 355 00:24:16,165 --> 00:24:20,332 government that insisted upon democratic change and by free 356 00:24:20,333 --> 00:24:25,233 media that held the powerful accountable. 357 00:24:25,232 --> 00:24:28,032 We have seen that from the South Africans who stood up 358 00:24:28,032 --> 00:24:31,799 to apartheid, to the Poles of Solidarity, to the mothers 359 00:24:31,799 --> 00:24:35,366 of the disappeared who spoke out against the Dirty War, 360 00:24:35,366 --> 00:24:39,232 to Americans who marched for the rights of all races, 361 00:24:39,232 --> 00:24:43,366 including my own. 362 00:24:43,366 --> 00:24:47,567 Civil society is the conscience of our communities and America 363 00:24:47,567 --> 00:24:50,432 will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens 364 00:24:50,432 --> 00:24:53,700 beyond the halls of government. 365 00:24:53,700 --> 00:24:57,033 And we will call out those who suppress ideas and serve as a 366 00:24:57,032 --> 00:25:01,899 voice for those who are voiceless. 367 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:04,600 We will promote new tools of communication so people are 368 00:25:04,599 --> 00:25:07,199 empowered to connect with one another and, in repressive 369 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,165 societies, to do so with security. 370 00:25:11,165 --> 00:25:14,500 We will support a free and open Internet, so individuals have 371 00:25:14,500 --> 00:25:18,599 the information to make up their own minds. 372 00:25:18,599 --> 00:25:22,265 And it is time to embrace and effectively monitor norms that 373 00:25:22,266 --> 00:25:25,233 advance the rights of civil society and guarantee its 374 00:25:25,232 --> 00:25:30,399 expansion within and across borders. 375 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,200 Open society supports open government, but it cannot 376 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,467 substitute for it. 377 00:25:37,467 --> 00:25:39,600 There is no right more fundamental than the 378 00:25:39,599 --> 00:25:44,866 ability to choose your leaders and determine your destiny. 379 00:25:44,866 --> 00:25:47,299 Now, make no mistake: The ultimate success of democracy 380 00:25:47,299 --> 00:25:51,032 in the world won't come because the United States dictates it; 381 00:25:51,032 --> 00:25:54,532 it will come because individual citizens demand a say in how 382 00:25:54,532 --> 00:25:58,432 they are governed. 383 00:25:58,432 --> 00:26:01,799 There is no soil where this notion cannot take root, 384 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:07,232 just as every democracy reflects the uniqueness of a nation. 385 00:26:07,232 --> 00:26:09,432 Later this fall, I will travel to Asia. 386 00:26:09,432 --> 00:26:11,432 And I will visit India, which peacefully threw 387 00:26:11,432 --> 00:26:15,400 off colonialism and established a thriving democracy of over a 388 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,633 billion people. 389 00:26:17,633 --> 00:26:21,165 I'll continue to Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority 390 00:26:21,165 --> 00:26:24,500 country, which binds together thousands of islands through 391 00:26:24,500 --> 00:26:29,666 the glue of representative government and civil society. 392 00:26:29,666 --> 00:26:33,000 I'll join the G20 meeting on the Korean Peninsula, 393 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,567 which provides the world's clearest contrast between a 394 00:26:35,567 --> 00:26:39,834 society that is dynamic and open and free, and one that 395 00:26:39,834 --> 00:26:43,967 is imprisoned and closed. 396 00:26:43,967 --> 00:26:48,033 And I will conclude my trip in Japan, an ancient culture that 397 00:26:48,032 --> 00:26:53,666 found peace and extraordinary development through democracy. 398 00:26:53,666 --> 00:26:58,432 Each of these countries gives life to democratic principles 399 00:26:58,432 --> 00:27:01,700 in their own way. 400 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:04,933 And even as some governments roll back reform, we also 401 00:27:04,933 --> 00:27:07,500 celebrate the courage of a President in Colombia who 402 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:10,599 willingly stepped aside, or the promise of a new 403 00:27:10,599 --> 00:27:14,199 constitution in Kenya. 404 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,232 The common thread of progress is the principle that government is 405 00:27:17,232 --> 00:27:20,866 accountable to its citizens. 406 00:27:20,866 --> 00:27:24,299 And the diversity in this room makes clear -- no one country 407 00:27:24,299 --> 00:27:27,599 has all the answers, but all of us must answer to 408 00:27:27,599 --> 00:27:31,032 our own people. 409 00:27:31,032 --> 00:27:34,799 In all parts of the world, we see the promise of innovation 410 00:27:34,799 --> 00:27:37,165 to make government more open and accountable. 411 00:27:37,165 --> 00:27:40,567 And now, we must build on that progress. 412 00:27:40,567 --> 00:27:43,266 And when we gather back here next year, we should bring 413 00:27:43,266 --> 00:27:46,533 specific commitments to promote transparency; to fight 414 00:27:46,532 --> 00:27:50,799 corruption; to energize civic engagement; to leverage new 415 00:27:50,799 --> 00:27:53,265 technologies so that we strengthen the foundations 416 00:27:53,266 --> 00:27:57,166 of freedom in our own countries, while living up to the ideals 417 00:27:57,165 --> 00:28:00,432 that can light the world. 418 00:28:00,432 --> 00:28:05,066 This institution can still play an indispensable role in the 419 00:28:05,066 --> 00:28:08,266 advance of human rights. 420 00:28:08,266 --> 00:28:10,967 It's time to welcome the efforts of U.N. Women to 421 00:28:10,967 --> 00:28:13,967 protect the rights of women around the globe. 422 00:28:13,967 --> 00:28:21,900 (applause) 423 00:28:21,900 --> 00:28:24,367 It's time for every member state to open its elections 424 00:28:24,366 --> 00:28:30,633 to international monitors and increase the U.N. Democracy Fund. 425 00:28:30,633 --> 00:28:33,400 It's time to reinvigorate U.N. peacekeeping, so that missions 426 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,266 have the resources necessary to succeed, 427 00:28:37,266 --> 00:28:40,600 and so atrocities like sexual violence are prevented and 428 00:28:40,599 --> 00:28:43,966 justice is enforced -- because neither dignity 429 00:28:43,967 --> 00:28:48,467 nor democracy can thrive without basic security. 430 00:28:48,467 --> 00:28:50,934 And it's time to make this institution more accountable as 431 00:28:50,933 --> 00:28:55,399 well, because the challenges of a new century demand new ways of 432 00:28:55,400 --> 00:29:01,033 serving our common interests. 433 00:29:01,032 --> 00:29:07,232 The world that America seeks is not one we can build on our own. 434 00:29:07,232 --> 00:29:09,500 For human rights to reach those who suffer the boot 435 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:14,700 of oppression, we need your voices to speak out. 436 00:29:14,700 --> 00:29:19,900 In particular, I appeal to those nations who emerged from tyranny 437 00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:24,233 and inspired the world in the second half of the last century 438 00:29:24,232 --> 00:29:27,466 -- from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern 439 00:29:27,467 --> 00:29:32,533 Europe to South America. 440 00:29:32,532 --> 00:29:38,866 Don't stand idly by, don't be silent, when dissidents 441 00:29:38,866 --> 00:29:46,666 elsewhere are imprisoned and protesters are beaten. 442 00:29:46,666 --> 00:29:50,065 Recall your own history. 443 00:29:50,066 --> 00:29:52,633 Because part of the price of our own freedom is standing up 444 00:29:52,633 --> 00:29:57,533 for the freedom of others. 445 00:29:57,532 --> 00:30:02,966 That belief will guide America's leadership in this 21st century. 446 00:30:02,967 --> 00:30:05,667 It is a belief that has seen us through more than two centuries 447 00:30:05,666 --> 00:30:08,866 of trial, and it will see us through the challenges 448 00:30:08,866 --> 00:30:16,000 we face today -- be it war or recession; conflict or division. 449 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:20,400 So even as we have come through a difficult decade, I stand here 450 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,700 before you confident in the future -- 451 00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:28,200 a future where Iraq is governed by neither tyrant nor a foreign 452 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:34,933 power, and Afghanistan is freed from the turmoil of war; 453 00:30:34,933 --> 00:30:38,466 a future where the children of Israel and Palestine can build 454 00:30:38,467 --> 00:30:42,533 the peace that was not possible for their parents; 455 00:30:42,532 --> 00:30:44,666 a world where the promise of development reaches into the 456 00:30:44,666 --> 00:30:48,933 prisons of poverty and disease; a future where the cloud of 457 00:30:48,933 --> 00:30:53,133 recession gives way to the light of renewal and the dream of 458 00:30:53,133 --> 00:30:57,500 opportunity is available to all. 459 00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:00,432 This future will not be easy to reach. 460 00:31:00,432 --> 00:31:02,633 It will not come without setbacks, nor will it be 461 00:31:02,633 --> 00:31:05,333 quickly claimed. 462 00:31:05,333 --> 00:31:08,266 But the founding of the United Nations itself is a testament 463 00:31:08,266 --> 00:31:12,100 to human progress. 464 00:31:12,099 --> 00:31:15,666 Remember, in times that were far more trying than our own, our 465 00:31:15,666 --> 00:31:21,366 predecessors chose the hope of unity over the ease of division 466 00:31:21,366 --> 00:31:24,532 and made a promise to future generations that the dignity 467 00:31:24,532 --> 00:31:28,866 and equality of human beings would be our common cause. 468 00:31:28,866 --> 00:31:31,567 It falls to us to fulfill that promise. 469 00:31:31,567 --> 00:31:33,700 And though we will be met by dark forces that will test our 470 00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:37,799 resolve, Americans have always had cause to believe that we can 471 00:31:37,799 --> 00:31:42,232 choose a better history; that we need only to look outside 472 00:31:42,232 --> 00:31:45,899 the walls around us. 473 00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:48,734 For through the citizens of every conceivable ancestry who 474 00:31:48,733 --> 00:31:53,066 make this city their own, we see living proof that opportunity 475 00:31:53,066 --> 00:31:57,200 can be accessed by all, that what unites us as human beings 476 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:01,033 is far greater than what divides us, and that people from every 477 00:32:01,032 --> 00:32:04,933 part of this world can live together in peace. 478 00:32:04,933 --> 00:32:06,200 Thank you very much. 479 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:07,366 (applause)