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Barack Obama: â€œCycle of suspicion and discord between the West and Muslim world must endâ€

04 June 2009 15:33 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. US President Barack Obama made a historical speech at Cairo University in Egypt, APA reports quoting the world news agencies. President Obama called for "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the worldâ€, and said "cycle of suspicion and discord must endâ€. â€œI have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beingsâ€, Obama said. â€œI do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common groundâ€.
Obama said the first issue that to be confronted is violent extremism in all its forms. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, the killing of innocent men, women, and children. The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as it if has killed all mankind. And the Holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankindâ€, the President said.

The US President said they would never leave Palestiniansâ€™ efforts to establish the independent state, but at the same time called on the Palestinians to end the violence. â€œWe will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer. Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America’s strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakableâ€, said Obama.
He touched upon the Iranâ€™s nuclear problem and said this country had a right to have peaceful atomic energy. â€œAnd any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goalâ€. â€œIt’s about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous pathâ€, said Obama.
The US President visited Saudi Arabia before Egypt.