A New Beginning
The speech to the Islamic world was a keynote speech that U.S. President Barack Obama on 4 June 2009 held in Cairo. With this speech, a new stage in relations between the United States and the Islamic world should be heralded. The speech was in the original English title "A New Beginning" ( German: "A new beginning" ). Obama spoke in Cairo University, fulfilling one of the promises he had given in his campaign - within the first months of his presidency, such a speech in the capital of a Muslim state to hold.
- 2.1 Preparation of speech
Topics and contents
The Obama's speech was divided into seven sections, and devoted himself, in addition to general remarks on history and politics, the issues of violent extremism, Middle East conflict, nuclear weapons ( with a reference to Iran ), democracy, religious freedom, women's rights and economic development.
Opening
The President thanked the Egyptians for their hospitality and praised the Al- Ahzar university as a "beacon of Islamic learning " and the University of Cairo as a " source of Egypt's advancement ", which together represented the combination of tradition and modernity. With the Arabic greeting " Assalamu alaikum ʿ ", he headed over to the actual speech.
In the introduction to his speech, Obama pointed to shared values and quoted Sura 33, verse 70 of the Koran, Fear God, and saying what is right.
Middle East conflict
In the speech, President Obama reiterated his support for a two-state solution to resolve the Middle East conflict. Obama confessed to the alliance of the United States with Israel and called the mutual alliance " unbreakable ", but referred to the stateless status of the Palestinian people as intolerable. The Palestinians stand just as much a right to exist, as the Israeli right to exist is legitimate. Obama called for an end of the Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and called for peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
Religious freedom
Obama highlighted that tolerance in the Islamic world has a long tradition. He cited the example of Andalusia during the time of the Spanish Inquisition and Indonesia, where he experienced in his own childhood religious freedom of Christians in a predominantly Muslim country itself. People should be free to choose their faith and exercise can, regardless of where they live. Obama described the trend as worrying that some Muslims to their faith uphold characterized by refusing to another faith. The religious diversity must be protected. In addition, one should not hide behind the guise of liberalism, the aversion to a particular religion.
Women's Rights
The President shall act for the equality of man and woman, but does not view this as a purely Islamic issue, but it also extends to areas of everyday life in America and other countries of the world. For Obama, the equality is not a question of the prohibition of concealment, but rather the right to education for girls is a fundamental prerequisite for equality between men and women.
Background
According to the spokesman of the White House Robert Gibbs Egypt was chosen because " it is a country that represents the heart of the Arab world in many ways ." There was earlier speculation about the place where the speech would be held. Even Jakarta, Rabat, Amman and Istanbul were drawn in advance in consideration.
Preparing the speech
Ahead of the speech, Obama met on April 21 with Jordan's King Abdullah II and then May 5, together with Israeli President Shimon Peres.
On 19 May 2009, the U.S. president spoke at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At this meeting came about no joint statement. While Obama called a two-state solution as a priority and calling for an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Netanyahu refused the formation of an independent state of the Palestinians and insisted that Israel had the right to further creation of settlements. Obama demanded that Netanyahu not to carry out military operations against Iran, as he had previously announced intention to begin talks with the government in Tehran.
Obama met on May 28 with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas together. Even against him, Obama declared his support in favor of an independent Palestinian state. Palestinian President Obama made familiar with his ideas for the Middle East expect Obama's plan.
Mohammed Habib, deputy chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the largest opposition group in Egypt, the journey Obama to Cairo refused and referred to them as " useless, unless you go a real change in the government of the United States policy towards the Arab and Islamic world ahead "
Reactions
For the European Union, the Vatican and UN Genralsekreäter Ban Ki-moon consistently positive reactions came to Obama's speech, which was seen as crucial to the future relations with the Islamic world.
Even in the Arab world and the Middle East, the speech of officials was reacted favorably. Here, the hope was expressed that concrete actions will flow from it.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry let it be known, we evaluated the speech as " very positive step " to the proverbial gap between the Islamic world and the West to overcome.
The leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called the speech " free and open ... an innovative political step." A spokesman for the Palestinian organization Hamas welcomed the speech, which indeed contained numerous contradictions, but nevertheless " a perceptible break " constitutes. The chairman of the Arab League, Amr Musa, said the speech was " balanced and offers a new vision of rapprochement in relations with the Islamic countries ."
In the eyes of Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the speech was a " courageous appeal" and a representation of the universal principles Obama that this would the share of the Muslim world. Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, praised Obama's statements as " full of visions, a courageous speech, which requires a commitment from all parties involved in the Fotführung the peace process in the Middle East."
The time published a commentary by Michael Thumann. He wrote, among other things:
" He hit just the right note. Yet in the critical questions he remained vague .... Barack Obama was strong in the soft issues of Western relations with the Muslim world. Weaker, however, was his appearance at the tough questions in the Middle East inflame the conflict. "
Speech is embedded in Obama's trip
Obama met before the speech outside of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah together. He stayed on his stud before he flew to Cairo.
Immediately before the speech led Barack Obama talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, where the two discussed the situation between Israel and the Palestinians.
After his speech, the U.S. president flew to Dresden, where he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on June 5. It was a joint visit to the Frauenkirche in Dresden and the Buchenwald concentration camp on the program.