Sept. 24 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2010

Middle East Peace Process We, as an international community, then have to support those efforts, acknowledging Mr. Kalbasi. Yesterday you talked about the that it’s very difficult. It may not be possible, naysayers when it comes to the Middle East but we have to try. And now’s the time to try. peace process. But, Mr. President, a lot of this And I think that if we were able to achieve pessimism comes from people who want peace, the goal of a peaceful settlement between the but they’re looking at the makeup of the Israeli Israelis and the Palestinians, then that would Government, they’re looking at the divisions on change the dynamic of the region in a very posi- the Palestinian side, and they don’t think it’s tive way. What I think most Iranian people are possible at this stage for them to take that bold step. What makes you so confident that this looking for is that Palestinians have their right time is different? And if so, how would that geo- to a sovereign state. Well, there’s only one way politically change the region, including Iran? to achieve that, and that is by peace through Is- The President. Well, let me say, I wouldn’t rael. It’s not going to be achieved through vio- consider myself so confident that we can get lence. this done. I think it’s necessary. I—and the And again, this is an example of where the point I was making was for decades now, we Iranian regime has a choice. It can be support- have seen this conflict not only consume the ive of peace efforts that result in concrete bene- politics of the region, but also hamper the abili- fits for the Palestinian people, or it can choose ty of Israeli children to feel safe, Palestinian to engage in rhetoric and fund terrorist activity children to succeed and thrive. that ensures continued conflict, which may And if we cannot begin to actually move to- serve their political interests, but certainly wards a Palestinian state living side by side in doesn’t serve the interests of a Palestinian fami- peace and security with a Jewish—the Jewish ly on the West Bank who would prefer to have a State of Israel, then what we are going to see, I country of their own in which they can start a think, is more and more conflict, more and business or send their children to school. That’s, more bloodshed, and the prospects of any I think, the vision that we have to keep in mind. peaceful resolution will dissolve. So I’m moving Mr. Kalbasi. Thank you so much, Mr. Presi- on the—out of a sense of urgency, not because dent. it’s easy. I think it’s going to be very difficult for us to achieve these goals. The President. I enjoyed it. What I am optimistic about is I think that Mr. Kalbasi. Thank you for your time. President Abbas is a man who sincerely desires The President. Thank you very much. peace as well as a sovereign Palestinian state. I think Prime Minister Netanyahu has undergone NOTE: The interview began at 10:08 a.m. at the an evolution in his thinking, and I think that he Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. In his remarks, the genuinely would like to see a peaceful Palestin- President referred to President Mahmoud Ab- ian state and a secure Israeli state that’s at peace bas of the Palestinian Authority; and Prime with its neighbors. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

Remarks Prior to a Meeting With President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon of Colombia in New York City September 24, 2010

President Obama. Well, I want to welcome He has already, I think, in the short time that President Santos here. This is the first time that he’s been in office, shown remarkable leader- we’ve met face to face, although we had a won- ship. Yesterday was a big day for the people of derful conversation on the phone. Colombia and those who are seeking peace in

1422 Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 / Sept. 24 the region. Because of outstanding work by Co- much our very special relations with the United lombian security forces, they were able to em- States. We’re coming, ourselves, into a new era. bark on a mission that resulted in the death of Now that the security problem is more or less the leader of FARC. solved, we can now turn to a more progressive The people of Colombia have been plagued agenda. Social development, the prosperity of by this terrorist insurgency for a very long time, our people, climate change, the environment, and as a consequence of the success of Colom- those are the type of issues that we can now in- bian security forces, I think we now have the clude in our agenda. And we want to enhance chance to see continued stability in Colombia our relation to a true partnership where Colom- and in the region. And that will create the pros- bia and the U.S. can work together in the region pects for peace and development under Presi- and outside the region for our mutual benefit. dent Santos’s leadership. So we want to con- I am proud of being a graduate from the Uni- gratulate him. versity of Kansas. [Laughter] As President The friendship between our two countries is Obama knows that we are very good in basket- extraordinarily important to us. We are working ball. But I told him, when he called me, what not just in dealing with things like drug interdic- the Republicans say about my education, that I tion, but we’re also interested in figuring out was—afterwards, I went to Harvard. And they how we can continually improve our economic say I was educated in Kansas and corrupted in cooperation, our political cooperation, and our Harvard. [Laughter] And I think that’s some- people-to-people exchanges so that we continu- thing that we both are—also graduated from ally deepen these bilateral ties. Harvard, and I’m sure that that’s only a Repub- And I think that President Santos also likes to lican point of view, not a Democratic one. boast about the fact that his Kansas Jayhawks [Laughter] have won a number of championships in basket- President Obama. Well, actually, they all— ball. And I was a little disappointed with them they think I was corrupted somewhere. [Laugh- last year because I bet on them winning it all, ter] and they lost. [Laughter] But he’s already apol- Welcome. Thank you so much. ogized to me for that. [Laughter] President Santos. Thank you very much. So I want to welcome the President. Again, President Obama. Thank you. congratulations on a great start. We are confi- dent that you’re going to do well and we’ll be NOTE: The President spoke at 12:26 p.m. at the able to strengthen the cooperation between our Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. In his remarks, he re- two nations. ferred to Victor Julio Suarez Rojas, chief of mil- President Santos. Thank you. itary operations of the Revolutionary Armed President Obama. Thank you. Forces of Colombia (FARC), who was killed by President Santos. All right, I want to thank Colombian military forces on September 23. President Obama for his warm welcome and his The Office of the Press Secretary also released a generous words. We value in Colombia very Spanish language transcript of these remarks.

Remarks at a United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders Meeting in New York City September 24, 2010

President Obama. Well, good afternoon, every- United States. This reflects ASEAN’s growing im- one. To all the leaders who are here as well as the portance and the unprecedented cooperation be- delegations, welcome. I want to thank my fellow tween ASEAN and the United States. leaders for being here and for making this the first As a Pacific nation, the United States has an U.S.-ASEAN leaders meeting to take place in the enormous stake in the people and the future of

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