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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Obama reaches out to Muslim world | Obama reaches out to Muslim world |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has said the "cycle of suspicion and discord" between the United States and the Muslim world must end. | US President Barack Obama has said the "cycle of suspicion and discord" between the United States and the Muslim world must end. |
| In a keynote speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called for a "new beginning" in ties. | In a keynote speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called for a "new beginning" in ties. |
| He admitted there had been "years of distrust" and said both sides needed to make a "sustained effort... to respect one another and seek common ground". | He admitted there had been "years of distrust" and said both sides needed to make a "sustained effort... to respect one another and seek common ground". |
| Mr Obama made a number of references to the Koran and called on all faiths to live together in peace. | Mr Obama made a number of references to the Koran and called on all faiths to live together in peace. |
| He received a standing ovation at the end of his speech at Cairo University. | |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo says Barack Obama wants to give a message of respect to a region which has often felt ignored, misunderstood or patronised by the US. | The BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo says Barack Obama wants to give a message of respect to a region which has often felt ignored, misunderstood or patronised by the US. |
| White House officials said the speech was intended to start a process to "re-energise the dialogue with the Muslim world". | White House officials said the speech was intended to start a process to "re-energise the dialogue with the Muslim world". |
| 'Not so unique' | 'Not so unique' |
| Mr Obama said: "I 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." | Mr Obama said: "I 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." |
| Tim Franks, BBC Middle East correspondent President Obama's language towards Israel is strong but also, maybe deliberately, imprecise. | Tim Franks, BBC Middle East correspondent President Obama's language towards Israel is strong but also, maybe deliberately, imprecise. |
| Takes these two sentences: "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" and "It is time for these settlements to stop". It is the same language that Hillary Clinton has recently used. But what does it actually mean? | Takes these two sentences: "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" and "It is time for these settlements to stop". It is the same language that Hillary Clinton has recently used. But what does it actually mean? |
| Does it mean that settlement expansion should stop? Or, in fact, for existing settlements to be disbanded? Could the first sentence even mean that the USA is beginning to revisit its studied ambiguity, for the last 30 years, over whether it views all Israeli settlements on occupied territory as illegal? | Does it mean that settlement expansion should stop? Or, in fact, for existing settlements to be disbanded? Could the first sentence even mean that the USA is beginning to revisit its studied ambiguity, for the last 30 years, over whether it views all Israeli settlements on occupied territory as illegal? |
| Given the amount of time and effort that goes into working and re-working the text of a presidential speech, the apparent veiling of these two sentences is fascinating. | Given the amount of time and effort that goes into working and re-working the text of a presidential speech, the apparent veiling of these two sentences is fascinating. |
| He said "violent extremists" had bred fear and that this "cycle of suspicion and discord must end". | He said "violent extremists" had bred fear and that this "cycle of suspicion and discord must end". |
| Mr Obama accepted that "no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust" but urged both sides to "say openly the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors". | Mr Obama accepted that "no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust" but urged both sides to "say openly the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors". |
| He cited the Koran as saying: "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." | He cited the Koran as saying: "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." |
| Mr Obama said Islam had "always been a part of America's story". | Mr Obama said Islam had "always been a part of America's story". |
| He added that much had been made of the fact an African-American named Barack Hussein Obama had become president, but he insisted his personal story was "not so unique". | He added that much had been made of the fact an African-American named Barack Hussein Obama had become president, but he insisted his personal story was "not so unique". |
| "The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores - that includes nearly seven million American Muslims." | "The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores - that includes nearly seven million American Muslims." |
| 'Intolerable' | 'Intolerable' |
| The president also said Muslim perceptions of the US must change. | The president also said Muslim perceptions of the US must change. |
| "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire." | "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire." |
| Mr Obama said Islam had an important role in promoting peace and tackling extremism. | Mr Obama said Islam had an important role in promoting peace and tackling extremism. |
| No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other Barack Obama | No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other Barack Obama |
| On the key issues of Iraq and Afghanistan, the president said the US sought no permanent bases in either country. | On the key issues of Iraq and Afghanistan, the president said the US sought no permanent bases in either country. |
| He said: "We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case." | He said: "We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case." |
| On the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Mr Obama said the bond with Israel was "unbreakable". | On the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Mr Obama said the bond with Israel was "unbreakable". |
| He said: "Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong." | He said: "Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong." |
| OBAMA'S TOUR 3 June: Saudi Arabia - talks with King Abdullah on Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations 4 June: Egypt - talks with President Hosni Mubarak, keynote speech at Cairo university 5 June: Germany - meets Chancellor Angela Merkel, visits to Dresden and to Buchenwald concentration camp 6 June: France - meets President Nicolas Sarkozy, attends D-Day events in Normandy | OBAMA'S TOUR 3 June: Saudi Arabia - talks with King Abdullah on Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations 4 June: Egypt - talks with President Hosni Mubarak, keynote speech at Cairo university 5 June: Germany - meets Chancellor Angela Merkel, visits to Dresden and to Buchenwald concentration camp 6 June: France - meets President Nicolas Sarkozy, attends D-Day events in Normandy |
| But he also said the "situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable". | But he also said the "situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable". |
| "Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's," Mr Obama said. | "Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's," Mr Obama said. |
| On the key issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Mr Obama said "there can be no progress towards peace without a halt to such construction". | On the key issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Mr Obama said "there can be no progress towards peace without a halt to such construction". |
| Israel is resisting calls to freeze building activity but Palestinian leaders have said there can be no progress towards peace without a halt. | Israel is resisting calls to freeze building activity but Palestinian leaders have said there can be no progress towards peace without a halt. |
| On the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr Obama said: "No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons" and said Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear power. | On the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr Obama said: "No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons" and said Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear power. |
| But he said there should be no nuclear arms race in the Middle East. | But he said there should be no nuclear arms race in the Middle East. |
| On democracy, Mr Obama said that "America does not presume to know what is best for everyone". | On democracy, Mr Obama said that "America does not presume to know what is best for everyone". |
| "No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other." | "No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other." |
| Mr Obama arrived in Egypt from a visit to Saudi Arabia. | |
| Later on Thursday he will visit the pyramids before heading to Germany and France. |