29 May 2009
President Obama to Speak to Muslim World from Cairo June 4
Obama identifies several themes that will be part of his speech
Washington — President Obama will deliver a speech from Cairo University on June 4 outlining his personal commitment to engagement with the Muslim world, based upon mutual interests and mutual respect, and will 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.
The home of speech co-hosts Al Azhar University and Cairo University, Cairo is a city at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, and as such provides a fitting venue for speaking directly to Muslim communities across the globe.
The speech is expected to be indicative of Obama’s perspective, recently broadcast in an interview with Al Arabiya: “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: “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.”
The president briefly previewed additional points of his speech. He 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.”
Although some people have expressed an expectation that President Obama will lay out a new Middle East peace process, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, “He’s going to discuss elements of how to bring about peace in the Middle East. But the Cairo speech is not intended to lay out some detailed map for how one gets to that.”
In addition to presenting a message to the Muslim world, the aim of Obama’s trip is to continue a dialogue with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the full range of bilateral and regional issues.
The United States and Egypt have enjoyed a strong relationship for more than 30 years. The foundation of this relationship has been the common interest shared in concluding a comprehensive peace between Israel and its neighbors, and also in countering extremism and in solving other regional and global conflicts through negotiations and peaceful means.
The United States remains committed to the promotion of human rights and democracy in Egypt, and those topics will be part of Obama’s and Mubarak’s dialogue.
On June 3, prior to the speech, Obama will visit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with King Abdullah to discuss a range of important issues, including Middle East peace, Iran and terrorism.
On June 5, Obama will travel to Dresden, Germany, and visit the site of the former Buchenwald concentration camp. On June 6, the president will take part in activities commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day.
