Obama signals welcome change at the UN
PRESIDENT Obama, in his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly last Tuesday, pledged a new willingness to work with the global community, and urged them to set aside "an almost reflexive anti-Americanism" and collectively confront the global crises. The tone and tenor of his speech were markedly different from his predecessor Bush's policy of "acting alone" and flouting the opinion of the international community. Obama sought to clearly delineate differences between his administration and that of his predecessor.
The American president underscored that his administration had paid its past dues and had decided to "re-engage" at the United Nations. He urged the world leaders to involve themselves in an "era of engagement based on mutual interest and respect." He also cautioned them that "America alone cannot solve the world's problems" and called for "new coalitions" to bridge the "old divides."
The speech covered the usual UN issues, but he laid particular emphasis on achieving a comprehensive peace deal in the Middle East between Israel and its Arab neighbours. He called for the re-launching of the peace negotiations "without preconditions" on the two core issues, namely security for Israelis and the Palestinian right to statehood.
His goal was to create "two states living side by side in peace and security -- a Jewish state of Israel and a viable and independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realises the potentials of the Palestinian people."
Simultaneously, he would also like to pursue peace between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria and a broader peace between Israel and many of its neighbours on the basis of multilateral participation along with bilateral negotiations.
A day after convening a meeting between the Palestinian President Mahmud and the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House, Obama acknowledged that the upcoming negotiations would be difficult and challenging but assured them he would not "waver" in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.
During the Bush administration, the Middle East Peace process had become completely stalled, especially after the cataclysmic events of 9/11.
He did single out Iran and North Korea for their pursuit of nuclear weapons, which he believed "would threaten to take us down the dangerous slope," but his tone was conciliatory. While respecting their "rights" as members of the international community, he reminded them of their obligations to respect the international agreements and treaties with a view to avoiding the escalating nuclear arms race in their respective regions and beyond. He once again mentioned his resolve to pursue diplomacy and negotiations to achieve these goals, and assured them of "greater prosperity and a more secure peace" if they "live up to their obligations." Only time will tell how far this carrot and stick policy will work.
On the issue of climate change, Obama clearly indicated a major shift from Bush's policy when he announced that the "days when America dragged its feet are over" and that America would no longer be an obstruction to global action.
At the same time, he reminded the developing countries of their responsibility to reduce their air pollution without inhibiting their economic growth. Incidentally, the Bush administration had not only refused to sign the Kyoto protocol but had also actively blocked any international negotiation on the issue.
Obama's unequivocal condemnation of the use of torture received warm applause. He announced that he had prohibited this barbaric practice "without exception or equivocation," that he had ordered closing of the prison at the Guantanamo Bay, and that he had decided to combat extremism within the rule of the law.
Citing his status as the first African-American US President, Obama issued a call for respecting human rights and democratic governments around the globe. In an apparent reference to the violent clamping down of public demonstrations after the disputed elections in Iran, he said "true leadership will not be measured by the ability to muzzle dissent or to intimidate and harass political opponents at home," and said that the people of the world wanted change and they would not tolerate those who opposed their democratic aspirations.
Obama has once again demonstrated his desire to break away with the past and bring in a change in the international arena, but how far he can carry the Congress and his people at this difficult time of economic recession remains to be seen. Surely his speech did not contain specific details but his tone and tenor were positive and forward-looking. The vast majority of UN members have welcomed Obama's speech, and they look forward to concrete action on his part.
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