Speeches

Press Conference: President Obama's Speech to the Muslim World

Veune: American Embassy, Dar es Salaam

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Remarks by U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Robert Hannan (as prepared)

Good morning. Thank you for joining us on such short notice. This afternoon, at 1 p.m. President Barack Obama will deliver a speech from Cairo University outlining his personal commitment to engagement with the Muslim world and discuss how the United States and Muslim communities around the world can bridge some of the differences that have divided them. His commitment to engage the Muslim world began with his inaugural address when he said, "to the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual respect."

The speech is expected to be indicative of the President's perspective, recently broadcast in an interview with Al Arabiya. In it he said, “the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world. … The language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.”

Obama has identified a portion of the message he plans to share, in comments following his recent meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, stating, “I want to use the occasion to deliver a broader message about how the United States can change for the better its relationship with the Muslim world. That will require, I think, a recognition on both the part of the United States as well as many majority Muslim countries about each other, a better sense of understanding, and I think possibilities to achieve common ground.”

I hope you all will take with you a copy of our handout "Being a Muslim in America." The president has emphasized the important contributions that Muslim Americans make to America. He also recognized how important the issue of Middle East peace is to the Arab world and beyond. He remarked, “The absence of peace between Palestinians and Israelis is an impediment to a whole host of other areas of increased cooperation and [to] more stable security for people in the region, as well as the United States. And so I want to see progress made, and we will work very aggressively to achieve that.”

We appreciate you all being here this morning and hope that you will cover the President's speech and his message to the Muslim community, including here in Tanzania. We look forward to continue strengthening the partnership between the United States of America and the United Republic of Tanzania. Asenteni sana!