Recorded on his way back from the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, the President discusses how engagement produced tangible results in several areas.
read the transcript
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2009 AT 12:30 AMWeekly Address: Progress with the G-20 in Pittsburgh
Posted by Jesse Lee
"Recorded literally on his way back from the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, the President uses his Weekly Address to recap the progress made during the intensive discussions with world leaders. From an historic agreement to reform the global financial system, to groundbreaking commitments on reducing subsidies to fossil fuels worldwide, to unity in standing against threats to world peace -- engagement produced tangible results in several areas."
President Obama also addressed the reduction of nuclear weapons: "The United States is meeting our responsibilities by pursuing an agreement with Russia to reduce our strategic warheads and launchers. And just as we meet our responsibilities, so must other nations, including Iran and North Korea.
"Earlier this year, we imposed tough, new, sanctions on North Korea to stop their efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. And we will continue to stand with our allies and partners to press North Korea to move in a new direction.
"This week, we joined with the United Kingdom and France in presenting evidence that Iran has been building a secret nuclear facility to enrich uranium. This is a serious challenge to the global nonproliferation regime, and continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion. That is why international negotiations with Iran scheduled for October 1st now take on added urgency.
"My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue remains open. But Iran must now cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions.
"On this, the international community is more united than ever before. Yesterday, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our European allies in condemning Iran’s program. In our meetings and public statements, President Medvedev of Russia and I agreed that Iran must pursue a new course or face consequences. All of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany, have made it clear that Iran must fulfill its responsibilities.
"Iran’s leaders must now choose – they can live up to their responsibilities and achieve integration with the community of nations. Or they will face increased pressure and isolation, and deny opportunity to their own people.
"These are the urgent threats of our time. And the United States is committed to a new chapter of international cooperation to meet them. This new chapter will not be written in one week or even one year. But we have begun. And for the American people and the people of the world, it will mean greater security and prosperity for years to come."
The Associated Press reported that: "The White House responded to the development by urging Iran's complete and immediate cooperation with the IAEA. ''After hiding this site from the international community for years, full transparency is essential, and it is time for Iran to play by the rules like everyone else,'' White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
Obama said in his address that evidence of Iran's building the underground plant ''continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion'' that jeopardizes global nonproliferation.
"Ahead of Thursday's international talks with Iran in Geneva, Obama said the world ''is more united than ever before'' on this issue. Those negotiations, he said, ''now take on added urgency.''
Iran's failure to comply with international inspectors raised the potential of tougher economic penalties, although Obama and administration officials did not rule out military action.
''My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue remains open,'' Obama said, urging Tehran to ''take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions.''
"Evidence of the clandestine facility was presented Friday by Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh. The news overshadowed developments on regulating financial markets and reducing fossil fuel subsidies.
"Soon after, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, at his own news conference, urged Iran to cooperate, as did Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. He, however, did not endorse penalties against Tehran.
"At a news conference in New York, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country had done nothing wrong and Obama would regret his actions.
''What we did was completely legal, according to the law. We have informed the agency, the agency will come and take a look and produce a report and it's nothing new,'' he said.
"Ahmadinejad said the plant -- which Iranian officials say was reported to nuclear authorities as required -- wouldn't be operational for 18 months. But he sidestepped a question about whether Iran had sufficient uranium to manufacture a nuclear weapon."
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