WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- US President Barack Obama reiterated Tuesday before the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that he will be "relentless" in bringing the killers who killed the four U.S. personnel in Libya to justice, saying the attacks in Benghazi were "attacks on America." Obama's UN speech was attended by the Representative of H.H. the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the UNGA's 67TH session, Kuwait's Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the High-Level delegation accompanying him.
In his speech, Obama stressed "the attacks on our civilians in Benghazi were attacks on America," and that "there should be no doubt that we will be relentless in tracking down the killers and bringing them to justice." He added "but the attacks of the last two weeks are not simply an assault on America. They are also an assault on the very ideals upon which the United Nations was founded." "Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like (U.S. Ambassador to Libya) Chris Stevens, and not by his killers. Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations," he remarked.
As for the anti-Islam film that sparked outrage across the Muslim countries, Obama described the film as "a crude and disgusting video," reiterating that the U.S. government "had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity." He affirmed that the video is "an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well, for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and religion," saying "we are home to Muslims who worship across our country." As for not banning such a video, Obama said that "the answer is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice free speech," although he is aware that "not all countries in this body share this understanding of the protection of free speech." Meanwhile, Obama stressed that "there are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video that justifies an attack on an Embassy. There is no slander that provides an excuse for people to burn a restaurant in Lebanon, or destroy a school in Tunis, or cause death and destruction in Pakistan." On the recent events, Obama said that "the events of the last two weeks speak to the need for all of us to address honestly the tensions between the West and an Arab World moving to democracy." "The United States has not, and will not, seek to dictate the outcome of democratic transitions abroad, and we do not expect other nations to agree with us on every issue," he remarked.
On the Middle East Peace Process, Obama said in his speech that "among Israelis and Palestinians, the future must not belong to those who turn their backs on the prospect of peace." He affirmed that "the road is hard but the destination is clear; a secure, Jewish state of Israel; and an independent, prosperous Palestine." On Syria, Obama stressed that "as we meet here, we again declare that the regime of Bashar al-Assad must come to an end so that the suffering of the Syrian people can stop, and a new dawn can begin." "In Syria, the future must not belong to a dictator who massacres his people," he stressed.
He said that "together, we must stand with those Syrians who believe in a different vision; a Syria that is united and inclusive." On Iran, Obama said "the Iranian government props up a dictator in Damascus and supports terrorist groups abroad." He added that "time and again, it has failed to take the opportunity to demonstrate that its nuclear program is peaceful, and to meet its obligations to the United Nations." "Let me be clear: America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so. But that time is not unlimited," he remarked.
"Make no mistake: a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained. It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear-arms race in the region, and the unraveling of the non-proliferation treaty," Obama stressed.
He added that "that is why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable. And that is why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon." Meanwhile, Obama shed light on the "democratic spirit" that has been witnessed in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, where their people "for the first time in decades" voted for new leaders "in elections that were credible, competitive, and fair." He continued saying that "and yet the turmoil of recent weeks reminds us that the path to democracy does not end with the casting of a ballot." "True democracy, real freedom, is hard work," Obama remarked. (end) si.sd KUNA 251925 Sep 12NNNN