Israel:

Haaretz

Obama hails Mideast reform, says Assad must lead transition or 'get out of the way'
Obama says status quo in Mideast and North Africa is not sustainable, stresses U.S. opposes use of violence, oppression against people of the region.
By Haaretz Service and Natasha Mozgovaya

U.S. President Barack Obama pledged Thursday support for Mideast reforms, and said Syrian President Bashar Assad must lead transition in his country or 'get out of the way.'

Obama said that a top U.S. priority across the Middle East and North Africa is to promote reform and that it will oppose the use of violence and oppression against protesters.

"It will be the policy of the U.S. to support reform throughout the region," Obama said during a major Mideast policy speech at the State Department Thursday.

"We face a historic opportunity. We have a chance to show that America values the dignity of a street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator," he said.

"The status quo is not sustainable," Obama urged. "We have a chance to pursue the world as it should be."

"United States opposes the use of violence and oppression against the people of the region. The United States supports universal rights and political and economic reform."

Obama said the Arab revolution across the Middle East and North Africa speaks to a longing of freedom that has built up for years and has led to the overturning of tyrants - without perhaps more to fall. He embraced the call for change and compared it to signature moments of American history.

Obama also said that the astonishing ripples across the region show that repression will not work anymore.

On Wednesday, U.S. officials said the Obama administration believes that Tunisia and Egypt have the potential to be positive models of democratization for the other countries in region.

“It’s important to note that the political movements of nonviolent protests that we’ve seen are rooted in part in a lack of opportunity in the region”, said one of the officials.

He added, "you have very large populations of young people, too many of whom cannot find a job. You have a history not just of political rights being restricted but of economic corruption that has also frustrated opportunity."

The officials noted that the protests that have spread throughout the Arab world in recent months are due to lack of individual opportunity, economic growth and suppression of political rights.

They continued, saying that past successful transitions to democracy have been contingent upon "strong foundations for prosperity", adding that "reinforcing economic growth is an important way of reinforcing a democratic transition."

In light of this political reality, the officials said that the United States will take the necessary steps to support democracy in the region, adding that the Obama administration will focus on supporting "positive economic growth that can incentivize and reinforce those countries that are transitioning to democracy”.

The officials said that now is “a critical window of time for the United States to take some concrete action to demonstrate our commitment to their future and to reinforce their democratic transition with support for a broader base of prosperity”.

Another U.S. official spoke more about specific proposals, saying that the Obama administration would focus on four major pillars for economic growth and stability. He said that the U.S. will support better economic management, economic stability, and economic modernization and reform, helping to develop a framework for trade integration and investment in the Middle East and North Africa.


http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-hails-mideast-reform-says-assad-must-lead-transition-or-get-out-of-the-way-1.362823