The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, 11/20/2012

 

Nagaworld Hotel
Phonm Penh, Cambodia
 
 
2:28 P.M. ICT
 
MR. CARNEY:  Good afternoon.  Thanks for joining us here today in Phonm Penh.  As you know, the President has had some bilats this morning and some other meetings that he’s participating in.
 
I have Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, who can give you an overview of the President’s day and also can answer questions about the meetings, about the trip, and other matters.  I’m here to take questions on non-foreign policy related issues, if you have any.
 
And with that, I’ll turn it over the Ben.
 
Q    Jay, before you begin, there’s a break in the story about the Secretary of State going to Israel.  Can you confirm that?
 
MR. RHODES:  We’ll address it, Mark.
 
MR. CARNEY:  We’ll address that right ahead.
 
MR. RHODES:  Okay, first of all, I’ll just give a quick update of the President’s meetings this morning and then an update on the situation in Gaza.  
 
The first meeting the President had this morning was with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries that are in attendance here at the summit.  The countries reviewed the progress that has been made in negotiations over the course of the last year.  They also discussed the countries that have come into the TPP.  Canada and Mexico have joined; Japan and Thailand have expressed an interest in joining.  They’re committed to getting those negotiations concluded with an aim to doing so next year so that they can complete that trade agreement.
 
Then the President, as you saw, met with Prime Minister Noda of Japan.  They reviewed the bilateral security cooperation that we do through our alliance.  They discussed regional issues, including maritime security and some of the territorial disputes associated with that.  And they addressed Japan and its aspirations to join the TPP, and agreed to continue negotiations towards an achievement of that goal, which we believe would strengthen the TPP and be good for both Japan and the United States.
 
Then the President met with Premier Wen Jiabao of China.  This was the last meeting that the two leaders will have, given Wen Jiabao’s moving out of that role next year.  They discussed the importance of the U.S. and China consistently maintaining our cooperation on a bilateral, regional, and global level.  They discussed security issues, including Iran.  They discussed economic issues, including our commitment to strengthen the rules of the road in the global economy.  And they discussed regional stability, reaffirming that China is a part of our engagement here in this important region -- a critical part of that engagement; and our interest, again, in resolving territorial disputes and maritime disputes consistent with international rules of the road.
 
A couple of things on Gaza.  Last night, we read out to you, the President after leaving the dinner called President Morsi of Egypt and then Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel.  He reaffirmed our belief that it’s important for there to be a de-escalation in the region, one that brings an end to rocket fire into Israeli cities.  
 
And then later that night, the President spoke to President Morsi again to discuss Egypt’s constructive role in seeking to bring about a de-escalation in the region.
 
Then, to Mark’s question, this morning, Secretary Clinton and the President spoke about the situation in Gaza and the calls that he’d done, and they agreed that it makes sense for the Secretary to travel to the region.  So Secretary Clinton will depart today and she’ll travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Cairo, leaving from Phonm Penh.  And she’ll meet with regional leaders, beginning with our Israeli partners, to consult on the situation in Gaza.
 
Her visits will build on the engagement that we've undertaken over the last several days, including the engagement by President Obama and Secretary Clinton with leaders in the region to support a de-escalation of the violence and a durable outcome that ends the rocket attacks on Israeli cities and restores a broader calm in the region.  Again, as President Obama noted in his conversation with President Morsi, we commend Egypt's efforts to de-escalate the situation, and are hopeful that they will be successful.  
 
On her trip, Secretary Clinton will emphasize the United States' interest in a peaceful outcome that protects and enhances Israel's security and regional stability -- an outcome that can lead to improved conditions for the civilian residents of Gaza, and that could reopen the path to fulfill the aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis for two states living side by side in peace and security.  And, of course, she will continue to express our concern about the loss of civilian life on both sides.
 
And with that, I'll take your questions.  
 
Jim.
 
Q    Thanks, Ben.  Regarding Gaza and Israel, you've said that the precipitating incidents in this was rocket fire coming from Gaza.  What is that Secretary Clinton can take to the region?  What can she offer to Hamas to provide incentives to make them stop doing this?  And then could you also talk in more detail about any discussions on East China Sea disputes and South China Sea disputes, and how to resolve those?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, sure.  On your first question, the reason there is a conflict in Gaza is because of the rocket fire that’s been launched at Israeli civilians indiscriminately for many months now.  And any solution to this challenge has to include an end to that rocket fire.  
 
At the same time, I think we all agree that the best way to solve this is through diplomacy so that you have a peaceful settlement that ends that rocket fire and allows for a broader calm in the region. 
 
So what we've been doing is working with our Israeli partners to reinforce our close cooperation on security matters and our support for their right to defend themselves, but also to work with countries like Egypt that have relationships with the Palestinians so that they may use that influence and those relationships to encourage a de-escalation.  
 
So we want to broaden those discussions as we move forward with Secretary Clinton going to the region so that we can build on the constructive role that Egypt is playing and send a clear message that it's in nobody's interest to see an escalation of the military conflict.
 
So again, she will be speaking to Israelis, and her first stop will be in Israel, where she will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reinforce our close cooperation.  Then she'll be meeting with Palestinians in Ramallah, and she will be meeting with Egyptian leaders in Cairo.  And again, the goal throughout that trip is for everybody to use their influence and their voices to encourage a peaceful outcome rather than an escalation.  But again, our bottom line is that peaceful outcome has to include an end to rocket fire that threatens Israel.
 
With respect to the East China Sea, our view is that there needs to be a lowering of tension around these territorial disputes.  There’s no reason to risk any potential escalation, particularly when you have two of the world’s largest economies -- China and Japan -- associated with some of those disputes.  So again, I think President Obama’s message is there needs to be a reduction of the tensions in the East China Sea and a process going forward, more broadly, to ensure that these types of disputes don’t risk escalation.
 
Q    Does it help that tension, though, if there are U.S.  -- if the U.S. is participating in Japan military exercises?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, it helps, we believe, the regional security and regional stability to have the United States, as a cornerstone of our engagement in the region, maintain its close alliance with Japan.  We believe that the alliance we have and the military cooperation we have with Japan has been an anchor of stability in Asia for decades, and has helped, by the way, create the context that has allowed for broader prosperity and the peaceful rise of China.  
 
So we believe our cooperation with Japan is essential to Japan’s security, but it is also constructive in ensuring that this part of the world maintains the type of stability that has allowed it to have such economic growth.
 
Chuck.
 
Q    Who is she meeting with in Ramallah?  Is she just meeting with Abbas and members of Fatah, or is she meeting with some member of Hamas?
 
MR. RHODES:  I’ll allow the State Department to speak to the specifics of her schedule beyond her first meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu.  I can assure you that she’ll be meeting with the Palestinian Authority.  The United States does not engage directly with Hamas.  Hamas has not met the conditions that we’ve set for many years -- to renounce terrorism, to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and to abide by preexisting agreements.  So we do not engage directly with Hamas.
 
Q    (Inaudible.)
 
MR. RHODES:  Look, the Palestinian Authority is the leadership of the Palestinians.  President Abbas is the elected leader of the Palestinians.  So they are a critical voice in this -- in these matters, both as it relates to what’s happening in Gaza and our efforts going forward to improve the situation in Gaza, but also in terms of our broader efforts to pursue peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
 
So we believe that President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are critical partners in our efforts in the region, and it’s important for us to reaffirm that with her visit.
 
Q    Is this essentially an attempt to send the message that the U.S. is trying to play the role of mediator here?
 
MR. RHODES:  What we’ve been doing is working with a number of countries to play the role in supporting a de-escalation.  So her trip is building on the discussions that we’ve had over the course of the last several days, again, with President Morsi of Egypt, with Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey.  The Secretary has been in touch with Ban Ki-moon, who is also traveling to the region, as well as a number of her counterparts.
 
So this will extend those consultations.  And what we hope for is enough support in the region and internationally for a de-escalation, for an end to rocket fire, that can provide for calm and avoid an escalation of a very difficult challenge in Gaza.
 
Q    When does she leave?
 
MR. RHODES:  She’s leaving from Phnom Penh, so she’s leaving here later today.  I don’t have an exact time, but she’ll be leaving from the summit.  And again, the President and Secretary Clinton have been talking about the situation throughout the trip.  They spoke about it last night.  Then, after the President’s calls late last night, he met with Secretary Clinton this morning and was able to update her on his calls and to discuss the way forward.  And then, throughout the day at the summit site, the two of them were in discussions along with Tom Donilon, the National Security Advisor, who has also been talking to his counterparts.  
 
And again, we believe that the best way to advance the discussions we’ve had with leaders in the region is for Secretary Clinton to take this trip, beginning with our close partner, Israel.
 
Q    But then what leverage does she bring?  What leverage does the U.S. have other than trying to gather support of other players?  There have been a lot of non-negotiable demands from Hamas.
 
MR. RHODES:  Look, it’s not a matter of leverage, it’s a matter of what’s in everybody’s best interest.  It is not in the interest of the Palestinians and the people of Gaza for there to be an escalation of this conflict.  That would bring with it a huge cost.  As the President said the other day, we believe Israel has the right to defend itself.  Israel will make decisions about its own security.  At the same time, if we can achieve the goal of an end to rocket fire peacefully, that’s clearly preferable, and that’s a view that’s shared by Israelis and by leaders in the region.
 
So I think what’s at stake here is whether or not we can come together, and again, see leaders take decisions to support a de-escalation that ultimately can avert a greater loss of life from what we’ve seen the previous several days.
 
Q    Ben, if you were able to characterize how effective Morsi has been so far, how would you characterize the way he’s handled the situation?
 
MR. RHODES:  The President and the Secretary believe that the Egyptians have been quite constructive in the conversations we’ve had with them; that they have expressed a sincere commitment to support a de-escalation here.  What’s important now is to continue to pursue that course, to use the influence that they have over the situation to encourage that course.
 
So to date, we’re encouraged by the cooperation and the consultation we’ve had with the Egyptian leadership.  We want to see that support, a process that can de-escalate the situation.  But again, the bottom line still remains that Hamas has to stop this rocket fire.  So ultimately, they’re the ones who are going to have to be a part of a solution that ends the type of terror that Israeli citizens have faced over so many months with this barrage of rockets coming into Israeli territory.
 
Q    Is Morsi more effective than Mubarak has been in the past, would you say?  Is that fair to characterize? 
 
MR. RHODES:  I wouldn’t want to draw comparisons at this point.  Obviously, this has been a conflict that has been going on for decades.  Egypt has been a critical part of our effort to manage that conflict and pursue peace.  That was the case under President Mubarak.  It continues to be the case under President Morsi, who has upheld the peace treaty with Israel.  
 
What we’ve seen is, again, our engagement has been focused on practical and constructive cooperation that can reduce tensions, but ultimately, it’s going to have to be Hamas within Gaza that takes a step of not pursuing rocket fire on Israeli territory.  But we believe that Egypt can and should be a partner in seeking to bring about that outcome.
 
Q    On the ground in Egypt, Morsi is getting a lot of feedback -- pushback, that the people in Egypt are saying he’s not being aggressive enough over this train situation.  Do you think domestic politics will affect his -- while he negotiates?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, I’d say a couple of things.  First of all, in the call last night with President Morsi, President Obama did express condolences for what was an awful train wreck that took the lives of dozens of people, including many children, and President Morsi is of course focused on that.
 
I think as it relates to the suffering of the people in Gaza, though, our message to everybody -- the Egyptians, the Palestinians, other regional and international partners -- is that the suffering that they are facing will only increase if this conflict increases.  So therefore, those who have the best interest of the people of Gaza at heart will want to see an end to this conflict and a de-escalation of this conflict.  
 
As the President said the other day, any escalation of the military conflict would only bring about greater suffering and loss of life on both the Israeli and Palestinian side.  So that should be the basis for people to come together and avoid that outcome.  And again, the only way you’re going to have that outcome is if the precipitating factor of this conflict -- the rocket fire -- comes to an end.
 
Q    Ben, you keep using the phrase “de-escalate the situation.”  Are you avoiding using the word “ceasefire”?
 
MR. RHODES:  No, I mean, there are many ways that you can achieve the goal of a de-escalation.  Again, what our bottom line is, is an end to rocket fire.  We’re open to any number of ideas for achieving that goal.  We’ve discussed any number of ideas for accomplishing that goal.  But it’s going to have to begin with a reduction of tensions and space created for the situation to calm.  So we’ll be discussing going forward, as we have been over the last several days, what are the various ways in which we can accomplish that goal.
 
Q    I have a question about the Japanese bilat.  First, my understanding is that it was scheduled for 40 minutes but it ended up being only 25 minutes.  Why is that?  Second, on TPP, the Prime Minister today, he wasn’t able to announce an official decision by Japan to join the negotiations.  Were you hoping for the official decision today, and are you disappointed?  And last, can you give me a sense of how much of the conversation revolved around the Senkaku Islands?  And what was the President’s message to Prime Minister Noda?
 
MR. RHODES:  On the Senkakus?  Well, first of all, on the time, I couldn’t -- I’m not aware of exactly how long it was.  Obviously, this was on the margins of a summit, so you’re not allowed to -- you’re not able to have kind of an open-ended discussion.  But my understanding is that it was a good and friendly discussion between the two leaders.  
 
With respect to the TPP, we did not have an expectation that there would be some final agreement today.  There are still a number of issues at play.  And as I said, we very much welcome Japan’s interest in the TPP.  We think they could contribute a lot to the agreement.  And I think we want to continue those negotiations going forward.  
 
There are issues, again, that we’re interested in like autos, where we want to make sure that American automakers have access to Japanese markets and have a level playing field both here in the United States and in Japan.  We know that there are issues that are of interest to the Japanese as well.  So we’re going to continue our discussions around those issues with the goal very much being Japan coming into the TPP.  And we commend Prime Minister Noda’s leadership in supporting that outcome.
 
With respect to the Senkakus, again, it came up; it wasn’t discussed extensively.  Our message was that we support our close friend and ally, Japan, and we believe, however, the best way to deal with the situation going forward is to avoid a potential escalation, a potential misunderstanding that could lead to an escalation.  So I think it’s in the interest of China, Japan, the United States, and the region to see a reduction of tensions around that issue as well.
 
Q    On China’s -- on Iran, could you elaborate on that a little bit more?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, I think they were just -- they were reviewing, given that this was Premier Wen’s last meeting with the President, they were reviewing a number of the issues that they’ve worked on together over the last four years.  One of them is Iran sanctions.  And so it wasn’t so much a discussion about specific issues as much as it was a reiteration of that fact that we have had cooperation from the Chinese on issues like Iran sanctions.  We need to maintain that cooperation going forward, particularly in our sanctions regime, because we share the goal of diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.  So that’s the nature of that discussion.
 
Laura.
 
Q    Thank you.  On the South China Sea issue, it looks like what's happening is that China is saying that there has been an agreement not to "internationalize the issue;" presumably, that means deal with it in a forum like the East Asia Summit.  The Philippines and other countries are saying, no, we don’t, we haven't -- don’t have an agreement along those lines.  What is the U.S. understanding of the state of play on this issue?  And is this something that President Obama plans to -- has already brought up or plans to bring up?
 
MR. RHODES:  I think what we've seen for a period of time now is a belief by the United States that there needs to be a process to discuss issues associated with maritime security in the South China Sea, and that the forums like the East Asia Summit are important for that.  Because these need to be discussed in a multilateral context so that we can reaffirm the principles of maritime security that can guide the resolution to something like the South China Sea.
 
So for instance, the U.S. believes that any solution has to be consistent with international law, has to preserve the free flow of commerce that is important not just to the countries in this region but to the world.  The U.S. is not a claimant in the South China Sea, but we have significant interest there given its role in the global economy.
 
We also want to see continued momentum on a diplomatic process.  So for instance, ASEAN has been talking to China about a code of conduct that could help avoid misunderstandings, escalations within the South China Sea.  We believe that’s the type of diplomatic effort that needs to maintain momentum going forward. 
 
So the President will raise this, certainly, in the East Asia Summit.  We expect other leaders to raise it at the East Asia Summit as well.  And that’s exactly why we feel like it's so important to engage in international architecture like this in this region -- because as all these countries grow, as there are issues that need to be resolved associated with the rapid growth of these countries, you need to have forums where you can come together to address them.
 
So we put the issue of maritime security on the agenda last year, along with many other countries, and we expect that to be a sustained process with ASEAN, with China, and through the EAS.  And what that can do is create the context for a resolution through diplomacy.
 
So I expect we'll raise it here.  I expect other countries will.  And we believe that’s a very positive and constructive step going forward.
 
Q    So what's the current state of play right now in terms of -- my understanding is that Cambodia, as the host, has some control over what is and isn't dealt with at the summit.  Could you just explain how that all works?
 
MR. RHODES:  First of all, I think the current state of play, more broadly, is that last year you saw a lot of countries come forward -- the vast majority of countries in this region -- and address maritime security in the South China Sea at the EAS.  Since then, that’s created space for diplomatic efforts like negotiation of a code of conduct and a set of other discussions.  Here in Cambodia, the Cambodians of course have a degree of say over the agenda and what the product of the summit is, but at the same time, nations can bring to the table whatever they want.  And we very much expect that nations will bring to the table maritime security and the South China Sea.  And with ASEAN, we discussed maritime security as well, and there's a significant interest in ASEAN to see maritime security stay on the agenda in these forums going forward.  
 
So it's certainly going to be the case that it's on the agenda here.  It's certainly going to be the case that we're going to have a number of partners who are committed to seeing that there's a diplomatic process for resolving these conflicts consistent with international rules of the road, rather than leaving it to bilateral discussions between individual nations.  We think that's not the way to resolve the issues in the South China Sea.  We believe that these need to be done consistent with international law and discussed in multilateral fora.
 
Q    Ben, it's been observed this week that right as the President and the administration is trying to show, again, that it's interested in pivoting to Asia, that events in the Middle East again have, again, sort of raised its head and sort of in some ways overshadowed or at least -- part of the message here.  Does that raise any -- can you comment on whether that raises any risk about sort of so publicly saying we're sort of pivoting to this direction?  Is it hard to sort of leave the focus on one or do you do both?
 
MR. RHODES:  Yes.  At the risk of having a double metaphor with a pivot, we believe that the United States can walk and chew gum at the same time.  And I think you saw evidence of that the last few days, where you had a truly historic visit by the President of the United States to Burma and a clear indication from both the government and people of that country that they want to move in a democratic direction and they want a deeper relationship with us, which we believe can be a tremendous step forward both for the advance of democracy but also for a very important relationship that the United States could have with Burma going forward. 
 
So that is a significant thing that we'll take away from this trip, even as throughout the last several days the President, the Secretary -- Tom Donilon were in touch with counterparts on the situation in Gaza.  You know the pivot, in many respects, reflects not just the time that we're spending here -- which is significant -- but it's also resource allocation.  And so much of our resources the last 10 years have been in Iraq, principally, and then Afghanistan.  
 
And so as those resources are dramatically reduced, that not only creates time and space for the President and other senior officials, it allows for us to do things like prioritize our security presence in this region; prioritize our economic engagement in this region; and prioritize our support for democracy and human rights in this region, which was such an important part of this trip as well.  
 
So we'll continue to move forward with our pivot, even as we'll manage the inevitable crises and challenges that will come up in other regions.  
 
Jessica.
 
Q    Back to Israel and Gaza, a couple of questions; if you mentioned it, I missed it -- with whom is she meeting in Egypt?  What role are you looking for Turkey to play?  It sounds like you're asking them to play a more involved role, and why isn't she meeting there as well?  And more broadly speaking, are you asking Israel -- what does the end game look like?  Have you encouraged them to think about it?  And can you describe to us what a ramp down would look like for them?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, first of all, I just want to leave it to the State Department to fill in the details for a schedule.  We obviously just took the decision to pursue this trip as coming out of the engagements that the President and Secretary have had over the course of the last several days.  
 
We know she'll meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel.  We know she'll meet with the Palestinian Authority leadership, presumably in Ramallah.  And then in Cairo, she'll meet with a range of Egyptian leaders.  They'll have updates on her schedule. 
 
I think with respect to Turkey, we do believe that they are another country, like Egypt, that has influence with Hamas, with the Palestinians.  The President has spoken to Prime Minister Erdogan.  One of the people that Secretary Clinton has been in touch with the last several days is Foreign Minister Davutoğlu of Turkey.  So she'll continue to be in touch with the Turks.  And they too are a part of this effort, an international effort to encourage a de-escalation. 
 
In terms of what that would look like, our belief is, in the short term, that has to involve an end to rocket fire and also a restoration of calm within Gaza.  And that's necessary to create space to have a broader discussion about the fundamental issues at stake.  Ultimately, what we want to achieve is two states living side by side in peace and security.  And that is going to be much harder to achieve if you're going to have conflicts like what we've seen in Gaza, which make it that much more difficult to pursue what is already an incredibly difficult challenge.  
 
So we need to walk through the door here of restoring calm to the region, and then address some of the underlying challenges both within Gaza, where of course we've worked to support progress in the humanitarian situation there as well as an end to terror and rocket fire, but then also more generally getting back on a track towards the peace that we've been seeking for so many years. 
 
Q    Ben, is the administration specifically asking Prime Minister Netanyahu to hold off on any ground invasion while all these efforts are underway, while the diplomatic initiative begins?
 
MR. RHODES:  As we've said, we think Israel has the right to defend itself.  We think that Israel will make its own decisions about the military operations and decisions that it undertakes.  However, at the same time, we believe that Israelis -- like the United States, like other countries -- would prefer to see their interest met diplomatically and peacefully.  As the President said the other day, an Israeli operation of that nature would bring with a great cost to Palestinians in Gaza, but also to Israelis, because inevitably it would involve Israelis casualties.  
 
So we want to support the goals that Israel has.  We share the goals that Israel has.  And we and the Israelis both believe that if you can achieve those goals peacefully, that’s preferable.  But ultimately, they’re going to have to make their own decisions about what they need to do to defend themselves, and we believe that they have every right to defend their citizens from the threat of these rockets coming in.  
 
And in addition to that, as they do, we’re going to continue to provide them with the type of support that we have with the Iron Dome system, which has been quite effective in protecting Israeli citizens from incoming rocket fire.
 
Q    Can you be more specific about whether the President has asked them to hold off on an invasion?
 
 MR. RHODES:  No, the President has been very clear that Israel is going to make its own security decisions.  Again, that doesn’t change the basic fact that it’s just common sense that if you can achieve those goals diplomatically, that would be in everybody’s interest.  
 
But again, our bottom line from the beginning has been that we understand that Israel has a right to defend itself, and ultimately they’re going to make their decisions about how to do that.  But if you step back and if you look at what’s in the best interest of the Palestinian people, the Israeli people and the region, it’s a restoration of calm and not an escalation of the conflict.
 
MR. CARNEY:  We have just time for one or two more.  
 
Q    One more question about the Senkakus.  Am I understanding correct that President Obama raised this issue in a discussion with the Japanese leader and the Chinese leader?  And secondly, could you tell us what was the reaction of the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao?
 
MR. RHODES:  The reaction of Premier Wen on the Senkakus?  I’m not aware that that issue came up in the meeting with Premier Wen.  I think that the President and Premier Wen had a broader discussion about maritime security and the need to resolve disputes involved with maritime security peacefully.  
 
With Prime Minister Noda, I’m not aware of who raised the issue.  But this is something we’ve been talking to our Japanese allies about for some time now.  Again, our baseline is we, of course, are fully committed to Japan and its security -- that’s the cornerstone of our alliance.  We just believe that it’s in Japan’s interest, it’s in China’s interest, it’s in the world’s interest that the second and third largest economies in the world are able to reduce tensions around this issue.  So we ultimately think that that’s a good outcome for Japan.
 
Q    Do you think in light of the crisis that it's possible that Secretary Clinton might stay on longer?  That the President might want her to change her timeline?
 
MR. RHODES:  I have not heard any discussion of Secretary Clinton staying on longer.  I think that, obviously, right now we're dealing with an urgent challenge; with a window where we're trying to affect the situation in our discussions with countries in the region. And she has, of course, been an important part of that.
 
I think stepping back, what you saw on this trip was a recognition of the fact that this is the last trip that she will be on with the President.  And I was talking to him earlier today about the emotion around that, the discussions around that, and you obviously saw his comments in Rangoon.  And he was intent, for instance, on bringing her down the front steps of Air Force One when it made the historic landing there.  
 
He also said that on the flight back from Rangoon to Cambodia, they spent basically the entire flight alone in his personal office on Air Force One just reminiscing about the last four years.  But, as the President said, it wasn't just the last four years; they have been through a lot together over the last five or six years.  And, in fact, unique among people, they have been at this, working as hard as they can, for five or six years now.
 
And I think what the President expresses and what he believes is not only has she done a great job as Secretary of State, but they've really come to become not just partners but close friends.  And that’s a friendship that he values very much and that he will want to continue going forward.
 
But right now there is urgent business to be done.  And as they were reminiscing they were also talking about the situation in Gaza and the international challenges that remain.  So we will be in, I'm sure, very close touch with her as she moves on to the Middle East in the coming days.
 
MR. CARNEY:  This is the last one.
 
MR. RHODES:  One more.  Jessica.
 
Q    Can I just get a sense -- where you feel the stance?  Are you guys getting any traction from Egypt on what the parameters for a ceasefire would be?
 
MR. RHODES:  We have been -- what we think is that the Egyptians are sincere in their belief that it will be -- it would be the best outcome for there to be a de-escalation.  We have had discussions with them about the nature of a de-escalation, what the ideas are that could advance that goal.  We have also been talking to the Israelis, obviously, at every step of the way so that we are fully coordinated with them.  Many other regional players have been involved; the U.N. Secretary General is going there tomorrow.  
 
So there are a number of ideas that are at play.  I'm not going to get into the details of them.
 
Q    Can you share any?
 
MR. RHODES:  I think if you step back, it's not that complicated.  I mean, there needs to be, in the first instance, an end to the rocket fire and a restoration of calm.  That can create space for a range of discussions that address issues associated with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  
 
So what is encouraging is we believe that leaders understand what the best outcome would be here.  However, you can only achieve that goal if Hamas takes action to stop what they have been doing.  So even if you have support from these regional leaders, ultimately, that’s going to have to have an effect on the ground on Hamas because they are the ones who precipitated this conflict with their continued rocket fire into Israel.
 
Q    And Ben, could you tell me -- is she going because talks are stuck?  Or is she going because you think you're close?
 
MR. RHODES:  Well, she's going because we have been in discussions with these leaders and we want to carry those forward.  And obviously, the center of gravity for those discussions is in the region.  And the President is going to do a lot of work on the phone.  He was on the phone until 2:30 in the morning last night; he left dinner and basically dealt with this for several hours.  
 
And so he will continue to reach out to his counterparts.  But she is going to go out there to be in the region, to have direct face-to-face discussions with those leaders.  I don’t want to predict exactly what the outcome of those discussions will be.  We all know how difficult the situation is.  We all know how charged the issue of Gaza is; we have seen conflict there in the past.  So this is a difficult challenge.
 
But again, it's worth the effort of leaders in the United States, in the region, and internationally to try to bring about the preferred outcome here which is a peaceful de-escalation.
 
MR. CARNEY:  Thanks, everybody.  We have to -- we're going to miss the plane, guys.
 
Q    What can they do, really, at this point?  It's really all about Gaza.  Abbas has no power with Hamas in the Gaza strip, so what can they --
 
MR. RHODES:  Look, obviously the Palestinian Authority as elected leaders of the Palestinian people need to be a part of this discussion, just broadly.  Specifically, in Gaza, they are going to need to be a part of the solution in the long term in terms of the goals that we all share in improving the humanitarian situation there, having greater opportunity for the people there and having an end to terrorism there.
 
So we believe that it's very important that the Palestinian Authority continue to be a part of these discussions.  They have legitimacy to be a part of these discussions, and they are clearly going to play a role in the future of the Palestinian people -- and a leading role.  
 
MR. CARNEY:  Thank you all very much.  Appreciate it.
 
 
END
3:05 P.M. ICT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

FACT SHEET On The U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership For A Sustainable Energy

Recognizing that energy and the environment are among the most pressing issues confronting our region, President Obama, in partnership with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, today proposed the U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future.  The Partnership will offer a framework for consolidating and expanding energy and environmental cooperation across existing regional forums to advance efforts to ensure affordable, secure, and cleaner energy supplies for the region.  Bilateral and multilateral energy and environmental initiatives are flourishing in the Asia Pacific, and the United States, in partnership with Brunei and Indonesia, will help coordinate and enhance these efforts, share best practices, and leverage existing initiatives across the various forums that undertake this work. 

The Partnership will build upon the existing energy initiatives in the region, including the ASEAN-United States Energy Cooperation Work Plan, the APEC Energy Working Group, the East Asia Summit Energy Ministers and other forums to expand practical cooperation across the region, promote greater energy connectivity and integration, and encourage collaborative work across these and other forums, including through joint capacity building efforts.  

The Partnership will drive investment and facilitate progress on four key regional priorities: renewables and cleaner energy; markets and interconnectivity; the emerging role of natural gas; and sustainable development.  We will engage with the private sector as well as partner countries in the region to determine specific projects within these four priority areas.  We will work closely with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to enhance their work in the region on these issues.  With an estimated $9 trillion needed in investment in electricity alone through 2035 to meet growing demand in the region, there is enormous potential for U.S. industry to play an important role in the region’s energy future. 

The United States will provide up to $6 billion to support the Partnership including:

• The Export-Import Bank of the United States will launch a program to make available up to $5 billion in export credit financing to eligible countries in the region over the next four years to increase access to American technology, services and equipment for the implementation of energy infrastructure projects;
• OPIC will provide up to $1 billion in financing for sustainable power and energy infrastructure projects.
• U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will support programs in partner countries in the areas of power generation, power distribution modernization, assistance with upgrading grid efficiencies to accommodate renewable power, and unconventional gas development.  
• The U.S. State Department will oversee a $1 million energy capacity-building fund to support partnership activities via project preparation and technical assistance.  

Recognizing the key roles in the coming year of Brunei as it assumes Chair of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit, and of Indonesia as it takes up the Chair of APEC, President Obama looks forward to working closely with both countries as well as the range of partners across the region to advance energy and sustainability cooperation.
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

Fact Sheet: East Asia Summit Outcomes

President Obama attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) on November 20 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the Administration’s continued focus on rebalancing its engagement in Asia to reflect the economic and strategic importance of this dynamic region.  As an Asia-Pacific power the United States’ economic and security future is inextricably linked to the region, and President Obama used the summit to explore with other Asia-Pacific leaders ways to enhance cooperation on the region’s most pressing challenges, including energy, maritime security, non-proliferation, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.  The President made clear that full and active U.S. engagement in the region’s multilateral architecture helps to reinforce the system of rules, norms, and responsibilities, including respect for universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, that are essential to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

The EAS is the region’s premier forum for Asia-Pacific leaders to discuss pressing political and strategic issues.  The EAS was launched in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six other Asia-Pacific region countries.  With the participation of the United States and Russia for the first time in 2011, the EAS now includes all the major regional powers, including U.S. treaty allies Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Thailand, and the Philippines, as well as India and China.

Energy Cooperation:  Economic and population growth are fueling energy demand, making energy security an increasingly important issue in the Asia-Pacific region.  To address this shared concern, President Obama announced the U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future.  This White House initiative will bring together in a comprehensive framework U.S. energy-related cooperation in multilateral and bilateral channels, focusing on providing technical assistance and financing for renewables, energy interconnectivity and markets, natural gas, and sustainable development.  By leveraging U.S. private-sector engagement, technical expertise, and financing, in partnership with Brunei, Indonesia, and other regional leaders, this initiative will tangibly enhance energy security in the Asia-Pacific, setting the path for sustainable development for the 21st century.  

See U.S.-Asia Pacific Comprehensive Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future Fact Sheet

Maritime Security:  EAS members are linked by the region’s maritime spaces, which have enabled the region’s dynamic economic growth and facilitated greater connectivity. Maritime security is a priority issue for EAS countries that recognize that challenges including territorial and maritime disputes, piracy, trafficking in illicit materials and natural disasters can threaten regional peace, stability, and prosperity.  President Obama reaffirmed U.S. national interests in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, unimpeded lawful commerce, and freedom of navigation.  President Obama encouraged the parties to make progress on a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to provide a framework to prevent conflict, manage incidents when they occur, and help resolve disputes. 

The United States has consistently worked with its partners in the Asia-Pacific region to build capacity and promote cooperation on maritime security issues. 
• At the EAS, President Obama announced the U.S. intention to accede to the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (RECAAP), the first government-to-government agreement to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery in Asia. 
• President Obama affirmed that the Expanded ASEAN Seafarers Training (EAST) program, which he announced at the U.S.-ASEAN Leaders Meeting, will be open to participation by all EAS members. 
• The United States welcomed the creation of the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum to provide a platform for coordination among EAS countries on a range of maritime issues including marine environment, resource management, piracy, and capacity building. 

Non-Proliferation: Noting the acute proliferation challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, President Obama has called on regional leaders to work together and take steps to ensure that the world’s most dangerous weapons do not fall into the most dangerous hands.  Since that successful meeting, the United States has welcomed positive steps made by EAS member states and regional forums toward improving regional cooperation on nonproliferation.  These include:

• Thailand’s endorsement of the Proliferation Security Initiative, a global effort that aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern;
• Vietnam’s [and Burma’s] ratification of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which contains measures that increase the IAEA’s ability to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material and to provide assurances as to the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in a State;
• Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Indonesia contributing to the Peaceful Uses Initiative, a five-year campaign announced by Secretary Clinton in 2010 to increase support for the IAEA’s peaceful uses programs; and
• The ASEAN Regional Forum adoption of its first-ever work plan on Nonproliferation and Disarmament, calling for specific workshops and capacity-building projects on nonproliferation, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and disarmament.  

President Obama welcomed these developments while acknowledging that much work still remains to be done to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery in the region.  He called on leaders to:
• Reaffirm their support for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in order to maintain peace and stability in the region;
• Reaffirm countries’ commitment to the international nonproliferation regime, stressing the importance of full compliance with our obligations under all UNSC Resolutions addressing nonproliferation, particularly those addressing Iran and North Korea;
• Support the outcomes of the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul to secure nuclear materials and prevent nuclear terrorism; 
• Promote transparency and cooperation on safe, secure and peaceful nuclear development in the region, including through implementation of IAEA safeguards and universalizing of the Additional Protocol; and
• Promote international bio-security cooperation and advance the outcomes from the Final Document of the 2011 Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief:  The Asia-Pacific experienced major disasters with devastating impacts in 2011, accounting for 80 percent of global economic losses to disasters..  Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief is a core agenda item of the EAS.  The United States has a strong record of working with EAS member countries in disaster preparedness and institutional strengthening, and of bringing a unique set of capabilities, skills, and expertise in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

• Since 1995, the United States has invested more than $95 million in disaster risk reduction efforts in the region.  This year, the United States provided an additional $22.7 million for disaster risk reduction programs which save lives at the time of disasters.
• President Obama welcomed the support by EAS Leaders for the Rapid Disaster Response (RDR) agreement.  The RDR can significantly increase the ability for states to provide and receive swift and effective support in the event of future natural disasters in the region, as well as provide a framework for closer links between regional disaster response authorities;
• The President welcomed efforts to expand participation in regional HA/DR exercises, including the BALIKATAN U.S. Philippine exercise that welcomed international participants for the first time this year. The United States also committed to join partner nations next year for the third ARF Disaster Relief Exercise co-hosted by Thailand and South Korea and the inaugural ASEAN-led, ADMM-Plus HADR and Military-Medicine Exercise hosted by Brunei;

Health:  While technological progress has dramatically increased the movement of people, products, and ideas throughout the Asia-Pacific, it has also facilitated the spread of infectious diseases, some with pandemic potential.  The United States has a history of partnering with countries in Asia to support the health and well-being of the region.  U.S. efforts are premised on building local capacity to improve the regional response to health issues and relying less on outside assistance. 

• President Obama was joined by the other EAS leaders in supporting Australia’s Declaration on Drug-Resistant malaria.
• The United States is partnering with Thailand, a regional leader in malaria control, to fight drug resistant malaria in the region.  The two-year, $680,000 agreement will support the Thai Ministry of Public Health’s efforts to strengthen malaria control and surveillance, particularly among migrant populations along its borders with Burma and Cambodia where drug-resistant malaria is most prevalent.
• The United States partnered with Singapore under the U.S.-Singapore Third Country Training Program (TCTP) to co-sponsor a Combating Counterfeit Health Products training course in August. 
• U.S. participation in activities like the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) helps drive regional cooperation to build more effective regional disease responses and facilitate health exchanges.  USAID’s Pandemic Influenza and other Emerging Pandemic Threats programs support domestic efforts and cross-border collaboration in line with the goals of the LMI at approximately $12.5 million per year.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

Joint Statement of the 4th ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 19 November 2012

1.         We, the Heads of State/Government of Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the United States (U.S.), held our Fourth ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Meeting on 19 November 2012 in Phnom Penh.  The Meeting was co-chaired by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia in his capacity as Chairman of ASEAN, and the Honourable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America. The ASEAN Secretary General was also in attendance.

2.         We expressed our deep sympathy and deepest condolences to the people and the Royal Government of Cambodia and especially to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia and Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, for the passing away of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the late King-Father of Cambodia, on 15th October 2012. We shared our sadness for this great loss with the people of Cambodia during this period of mourning. Cambodia expressed gratitude to the respective ASEAN and United States Leaders for their shared condolences to His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, Her Majesty Queen Mother, the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia.

3.         We commemorated the 35th Anniversary of ASEAN-U.S. Relations, noting with satisfaction the strengthening and deepening of ASEAN-U.S. cooperation, which has contributed to peace, stability, prosperity and resiliency in Southeast Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.  We decided to accelerate the implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced Partnership for Enduring Peace and Prosperity 2011-2015 adopted at the 3rd ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting on 18 November 2011 in Bali.

4.         We welcomed efforts to elevate the ASEAN-U.S. partnership to a strategic level. We received with appreciation the report of the ASEAN-U.S. Eminent Persons Group (EPG) and welcomed the recommendation, inter alia, that the annual meeting between the Leaders of ASEAN and the United States is fundamentally important and should be institutionalized from an ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Meeting to an ASEAN-U.S. Summit. We tasked the relevant Ministers to review and consider the recommendations of the ASEAN-U.S. EPG as appropriate. 

5.         ASEAN welcomed the continued participation of the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, at the East Asia Summit (EAS). We recalled the 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration, the 2010 Ha Noi Declaration, and 2011 Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations, which reaffirms and elaborates the broad vision, principles, objectives and modalities of the EAS. We welcomed continued efforts in the six priority areas of cooperation under the EAS framework and recognized high-level U.S. engagement in those areas including energy, education, environment and disaster management and response. We underscored the need for the EAS to address political, economic and strategic issues of common interest and concern, such as nonproliferation and disarmament, maritime security cooperation, food and energy security, and ASEAN Connectivity. We reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN as the driving force of the EAS, working in close partnership with the other participants, and underscored the importance of regular participation at the highest level from all participating countries in the EAS.

6.         We appreciated the substantial increase in high-level U.S. engagement in ASEAN-led political-security fora, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the EAS, and the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum. We encouraged efforts to strengthen coordination among these fora. We welcomed the ADMM’s decision to increase the frequency of the ADMM-Plus to once every two years. We welcomed the efforts this year of Indonesia, Republic of Korea and the United States to orient the ARF Inter-sessional Meeting on Maritime Security to include civil maritime law enforcement cooperation and capacity building.

7.         We welcomed the progress in the implementation of the activities of the five ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups (ADMM-Plus EWGs) to facilitate cooperation in maritime security, counter terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and military medicine. We welcomed U.S. participation in the ADMM-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise (AHMX+) to be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2013.  We welcomed the 2nd ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-terrorism, which was held in Washington from 3 - 5 April 2012, and took note of the efforts by the United States and Indonesia to develop a scenario for a Counterterrorism Exercise (CTX) to be held in September 2013 in Indonesia.

8.         We recognized the enduring importance of the United States and emerging role of ASEAN as a US$2.2 trillion engine of global economic growth, noting that ever closer economic ties are of crucial importance to both ASEAN and the United States, as well as to the world economy. We committed to redouble our efforts to increase both two way trade and investment. Drawing from U.S. data, total goods trade between ASEAN and the United States in 2011 showed a 9.2% increase to $194 billion. U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in ASEAN countries was US$ 159.6 billion, up 11.2% from 2010. ASEAN FDI stock in the United States demonstrated even stronger growth, increasing 13.1% to US$ 24.6 billion.

9.         We reaffirmed our commitment to deepen trade and investment ties and welcomed the launch of the 2013 ASEAN-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA) Work Plan. The Leaders welcomed the launch of the U.S. - ASEAN Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) initiative, which will promote closer economic cooperation between ASEAN and the United States, and facilitate the pursuit of high standard trade agreements. Drawing on the TIFA work plan, E3 initiative activities may include negotiation of a U.S.-ASEAN trade facilitation agreement, the joint development of principles on information and communication technology, the joint development of investment principles, the development of a code of conduct for small and medium-sized enterprises on ethical business practices in key sectors, and the expansion of cooperative work on standards development and practices, including on technical barriers to trade and good regulatory practices. We tasked the Economic Ministers and Senior Economic Officials to explore and develop these activities.  Recognising the vital role that business plays in our economic relationship and the success of the inaugural U.S.-ASEAN Business Summit in Siem Reap in August 2012, we agreed to expand our commercial engagement by holding an annual U.S.-ASEAN Business Summit and holding a second ASEAN Economic Ministers Roadshow to the United States in 2013.

10.       We noted the official launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations as part of ASEAN’s efforts towards deepening regional economic integration. We also noted the development of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a high-standard agreement, which will boost trade and investment and promote regional economic integration throughout the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

11.       We welcomed the strong interest of the United States in supporting the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC), and highlighted the unique competencies of the United States Government and American business in support of the implementation of the MPAC in the areas of transportation, energy, and information technology connectivity. We looked forward to further progress on the ASEAN-U.S. Connectivity Cooperation Initiative, supported by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), including engaging U.S. private sector resources to help ASEAN implement the MPAC. The first of these activities was the ASEAN Emergency Preparedness Workshop, held in Bangkok in May 2012, and the second was the ASEAN Smart Grid Workshop, held in Hanoi in early November 2012.  We welcomed the positive outcomes of the “Commitment to Connectivity” ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum (C2C Forum) held in Siem Reap in July 2012, which brought together dozens of business leaders from U.S. and Southeast Asian companies. We also noted the U.S. interest in supporting the development of the Mekong-India-Economic-Corridor (MIEC) which will contribute to the realization of ASEAN’s broader regional connectivity goals.

12.       We welcomed the innovative and active collaboration between ASEAN and the United States to boost trade facilitation measures that will support ASEAN's goal of a single economic community and production base by 2015. In particular, we welcomed the significant contribution of the United States through USAID in supporting the development of ASEAN Single Window project, which aims to develop an integrated cross-border process for customs clearance to increase trade efficiency, trade security, and competitiveness across the region. We further recognized consistent United States support for the promotion and implementation of region-wide technical and product standards to facilitate trade with and within ASEAN.

13.       We discussed economic challenges that pose threats to global economic recovery, food and energy security, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We further welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Secretary-General High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development Agenda, of which the President of Indonesia is one of the Co-Chairs as representation of the region as well as the developing world. We, therefore, agreed to support the work of the United Nations Secretary-General High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on Post 2015 Development Agenda.

14.       We reaffirmed our commitment to resist protectionism and to achieve strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. We stressed that global financial turmoil and elevated commodity prices underscore the urgency for continued attention through policy coordination.  We stand by the Doha Development Agenda and reaffirm our commitment to pursue fresh, credible approaches to furthering trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with an emphasis on specific areas where progress is most likely in the near term.  We welcomed Indonesia’s offer to host the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in early December 2013, and stand ready to cooperate with all Members in making the Conference a success and produce outcomes that address the needs of all Members, including developing countries and LDCs. We noted the Los Cabos Growth and Job Action Plan adopted at the G-20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on 19 June 2012 and recognized the important contributions of ASEAN in the G-20 process.

15.       We welcomed the successful convening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Vladivostok, Russian Federation from 8-9 September 2012, where the Leaders from APEC economies agreed to the APEC List of Environmental Goods on which they would reduce tariffs to 5% or less by the end of 2015; a comprehensive approach to improve supply chain performance; further work to promote market driven and non-discriminatory innovation policy; increased transparency in due process; combating wildlife trafficking; and enhancing food security.  We pledged to work together to support Indonesia’s 2013 APEC host year. We look forward to the convening of the 21st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting under the Chairmanship of Indonesia in 2013, with the theme of `Resilient Asia Pacific, Engine of Global Growth` and looked forward to further advancements on these and other critical issues, including good regulatory practices and local content requirements on APEC’s trade and investment agenda, and to attain the Bogor Goals, sustainable and inclusive growth, and connectivity.

16.       We looked forward to further positive cooperation and progress on intellectual property rights (IPR). We commended past and on-going cooperation between ASEAN and the United States in the provision of technical assistance and capacity-building, the commitment by ASEAN to achieve effective intellectual property regimes and enforcement consistent with international standards and international agreements to which ASEAN Member States are parties, and cooperation in the enforcement against global intellectual property crime. Noting ASEAN's commitment to the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2011-2015, we looked forward to the progress resulting from cooperation and capacity-building in fighting trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy and to the development and strengthening of intellectual property rights regimes.

17.       We noted progress in the Maximizing Agricultural Revenue through Knowledge, Enterprise Development and Trade (MARKET), a U.S. program that directly supports the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) framework and associated Strategic Plan of Action for Food Security (SPA-FS), emphasizing enhanced trade facilitation as well as improved farmer and policy-maker access to information, in partnership with the private sector. We welcomed the second annual dialogue between ASEAN Agriculture Ministers and food industry leaders in September 2012.  We acknowledged that improved agricultural innovation and trade would improve the lives of ASEAN citizens by increasing food supplies to those areas that need it most.

18.       We welcomed continued high-level ASEAN-U.S. consultations on energy. We decided to sustain cooperation on energy efficiency and conservation, and launch new cooperation in renewable energy, civilian nuclear energy and natural gas including the transfer of technology We welcomed the theme of “ASEAN Green Connectivity” at the 30th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting in September 2012 as a way to reflect their high participation in production and utilization of energy to minimize any harm to the environment, ecosystem, nature and society. We looked forward to the implementation of the ASEAN-U.S. Energy Cooperation Work Plan (2012-2014) and noted the United States’ initiative for the “U.S.-East Asia Comprehensive Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Future” to be launched by the United States at the 7th East Asia Summit.

19.       We reiterated our strong commitment to address climate change issues and to work together to secure a balanced and comprehensive outcome in the 18th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-18 UNFCCC) and 8th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP-8 Kyoto Protocol) in Doha, Qatar at the end of 2012. We welcomed the outcome of the 17th Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa.  We welcomed the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June 2012, which reiterated the importance of global commitment in achieving sustainable development. We noted U.S. support for green growth in ASEAN through, inter alia, facilitation of a trade and environment dialogue in ASEAN and looked forward to continued cooperation on green growth, environment, climate change and biodiversity. We welcomed further U.S. support for ASEAN's Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) initiative and ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity.

20.  With regard to the problem of poaching of and illicit trade in endangered and protected wildlife and living marine resources, ASEAN welcomed U.S. support in combating illicit trade in wildlife, and both sides agreed to explore future cooperation in this area.

21.       Given the high human and economic cost of natural and man-made disasters in the region, we recognized ASEAN’s cooperative disaster management and response efforts which promote a sense of ASEAN Community and relevance among its populations. We highlighted consistent ASEAN-US cooperation on disaster management and response in support of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and its mechanism. We welcomed U.S. support to the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) as well as technical support on disaster management to the ASEAN Secretariat’s ASEAN Regional Forum Unit. We welcomed U.S. assistance in advancing ASEAN implementation of an all hazard disaster monitoring and response system. We looked forward to a 2013 U.S.-ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction and real time information sharing. ASEAN welcomed U.S. efforts to promote mechanisms to facilitate disaster relief in the region, and we took note of the US-proposed Rapid Disaster Response (RDR) Agreement Concept, which outlines a legal and procedural bilateral framework to accelerate the deployment and acceptance of assistance personnel, supplies, and services in the event of major disasters.  We looked forward to further consultations on RDR concept development in the region. We expressed support for further cooperative efforts between our scientists and researchers in disaster risk reduction.

22.       We reaffirmed our shared interests on the importance of regional peace and stability, which are fundamental to growing prosperity in the region. In this context, we underscored the importance of maritime security, freedom of navigation and over flight, unimpeded lawful commerce, respect for international law, continued constructive dialogue and peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We welcomed deepening ASEAN-U.S. cooperation on maritime issues, through promotion of capacity building, information sharing, and technology cooperation across a variety of maritime fora. We welcomed the outcomes of the 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum and inaugural Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum, held in the Philippines in October 2012. In this regard, we welcomed the proposal of the United States to establish an Expanded ASEAN Seafarers Training Program. We took note of the U.S. initiative on Southeast Asia Maritime Partnership (SAMP) that aims to enhance maritime cooperation in the region.

23. We recognized the importance of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea and welcomed its implementation.  We looked forward to the early conclusion of a Regional Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). We expressed support for ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on ASEAN’s “Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea”, adopted on 20 July 2012, and its effective implementation. We took note of the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on the 10th Anniversary of the DOC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 19 November 2012.

24.       We recognized the grave risks posed by proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and their means of delivery and acknowledged the need to cooperate to reduce potential threats to legitimate trade. We welcomed the U.S. commitment to achieving general and complete nuclear disarmament and our common vision of a world without nuclear weapons.  We affirmed our support for the implementation of the Action Plan adopted by the May 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and we stressed the necessity for all NPT parties to continue to fulfill their respective obligations under the NPT. We welcomed the successful second Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul in March 2012. Further, we supported the implementation of actions called for by the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in December 2011. On the 15th Anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), we reiterated our commitment to meeting our obligations under the Convention, including the complete destruction of chemical weapons stockpile under verification as soon as possible, in order to protect the integrity of the Convention. We also urged countries that have yet to join the Convention to do so. We committed to the universalization of the IAEA Additional Protocol as soon as possible. In this regard, we welcomed the accession and ratification to the IAEA Additional Protocol by several ASEAN Member States. We reiterated the importance of a full and non-selective application and implementation of the NPT's three pillars - nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. ASEAN expressed appreciation for U.S. support of the ASEAN-sponsored United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution on SEANWFZ, which was adopted by consensus at the 66th UNGA.

25.  We reaffirmed the critical importance to regional and global security of the complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We called on the DPRK to comply fully with its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six Party Talks and its obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes and return, at an early date, to the NPT and to IAEA safeguards.

26.       We resolved to deepen cooperation against international terrorism under the framework of the ASEAN-U.S. Joint Declaration for Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, the ARF statements and its Work Plan on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes, and the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy. The U.S. expressed its appreciation to ASEAN Member States for their counterterrorism efforts. We noted significant achievements of law enforcement and security forces in ASEAN over the past several years in countering terrorist threats.  We committed to continue identifying and implementing actions towards this goal.

27.  We noted our support for the efforts of ASEAN and the ARF in addressing cyber security matters.  We acknowledged the work of the ARF on cyber confidence building measures intended to build transparency and cooperation in an effort to reduce risk in cyberspace, and commended the United States and Vietnam for hosting a workshop this year on Proxy Actors in Cyberspace.   We committed to partner on practical workshops for senior experts in law enforcement, IT and other fields to address national cyber strategies, domestic and regional coordination, public-private partnerships in cyber security and the development of national Computer Emergency Readiness Teams (CERTS).

28.       We decided to strengthen efforts to prevent and combat other transnational crimes, such as illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, people smuggling, money laundering, arms smuggling, sea piracy, armed robbery against ships, cybercrime and other forms of international economic crime in accordance with national laws and regulations. ASEAN Leaders appreciated U.S. support through ASEAN-U.S. Technical Assistance and Training Facility (TATF) in providing a trade based money laundering training, which help build capacity within ASEAN Member States to detect trade-based money laundering techniques.

29. The United States welcomed ASEAN’s goals to realize an ASEAN Community based upon adherence to rule of law, democracy, and the promotion and protection of human rights, and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter.   We commended the successful visit to the United States of the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in April 2012. We further welcomed the incorporation of a focus on women, gender, and youth issues in all Lower Mekong Initiative Pillars following the July 2012 Women’s Gender Equality and Empowerment Dialogue in Siem Reap, and also reaffirmed the Joint Statement on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment adopted by LMI Ministers and endorsed by Friends of LMI Ministers in July 2012.   

30.          We noted the importance to regional rule of law of increasing exchanges among ASEAN member-states’ judiciaries and appreciated the U.S. contributions to ASEAN’s first ever judicial cooperation workshop in 2012.  ASEAN looked forward to considering the U.S. initiative to organize a workshop on the development of model legislation to support ASEAN integration and community building. In this context, we also welcomed the establishment of the Singapore-US Third Country Training Program, which also offers relevant capacity building programs for ASEAN Member States.

31.       We highlighted continued efforts by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) to combat trafficking in persons (TIP). We welcomed the U.S. commitment to enhanced collaboration in addressing human trafficking, which presents a serious challenge to the region as well as the world. We looked forward to enhanced cooperation that will include support for efforts to harmonize ASEAN Member States’ legal frameworks in defining and prohibiting human trafficking, increase cross-border joint investigation, and build capacity for a standardized response to the needs of trafficking victims. The United States pledged to support ASEAN’s plans to develop the Regional Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (RPA) and the ASEAN Convention on Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP) as announced at the SOMTC Meeting in September 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. This is in line with the global efforts under the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. We welcomed continuing U.S.-ASEAN cooperation on the MTV EXIT -- End Exploitation and Trafficking -- campaign in Southeast Asia, which raises awareness of the problem by reaching millions of ASEAN youth through symposia, live concerts, and regional and local television, radio and online content.

32.       We welcomed increasing regional cooperation under the U.S.-Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) in the areas of energy security, health, agriculture and food security, education, connectivity, environment and water, which significantly contributes to quality of life and capacity building among the Lower Mekong Basin countries, and supports ASEAN's aim of narrowing the development gap among its Member States and addressing the common challenges. We were also pleased to note the admission of Myanmar as sixth member of the LMI at the 5th Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting on 13 July 2012 in Phnom Penh. We welcomed the U.S. announcement of $50 million from the Asia-Pacific Strategic Engagement Initiative (APSEI) for LMI programs over a three year period and also took note of $1 million support for a Mekong River Commission (MRC) Study on the sustainable management and development of the Mekong River. We noted with appreciation the launch of “Connect Mekong,” which facilitates linkages between LMI and ASEAN, fast tracks LMI programs related to ASEAN connectivity, and initiates efforts in grass-roots entrepreneurship in the Mekong sub-region. We looked forward to U.S. support for other sub-regional cooperation frameworks in Southeast Asia.

33.       We welcomed positive steps being taken in Myanmar that could facilitate national reconciliation, and encouraged further progress towards a democratic and open political and economic system. ASEAN Leaders expressed their hope that the United States and Myanmar would continue to deepen their engagement, including through taking advantage of Myanmar’s role as Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-United States dialogue relations until July 2015. ASEAN welcomed the United States’ continuing engagement in Myanmar.

34.  We welcomed U.S. efforts to build people-to-people ties between the United States and ASEAN.  We noted with interest the expansion of the U.S. Fulbright Exchange Program to include regional scholarships with a focus on ASEAN-U.S. priorities.  We looked forward to the U.S. - ASEAN Young Leaders Summit on 5-9 December 2012 in Jakarta, which will bring together alumni of the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) from all ASEAN Member States.

35.       We welcomed the U.S. support for the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) to promote people-to-people connectivity in ASEAN and enable youth in ASEAN Member States to be deployed to fellow Member States in support of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental programmes.  Building on USAID technical assistance working with the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) and ASEAN Secretariat, the U.S. government will continue to support the launch of the AYVP in 2013.

36.       We recognized the importance of science and technology as enabling factors for sustained economic development. We welcomed the United States announcement of the Innovation in Science through Partners and Regional Engagement (INSPIRE) initiative, which will foster cooperation between U.S. and ASEAN scientists in such areas as pandemic flu monitoring and prevention, development of low-cost vaccines, drug treatment monitoring, health innovation, and disease research. We looked forward to the launch of the U.S.-ASEAN Prize for Women in Science.  We looked forward to continued dialogues to strengthen ASEAN-U.S. cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation and promote the implementation of the eight thematic tracks of the ASEAN Krabi Initiative and Flagship Program.

37.       We highlighted the value of increased and more efficient access to digital content among ASEAN Member States, especially to promote knowledge sharing in matters of academic and policy studies. We expressed appreciation for U.S. contributions to the redesign and relaunch of the ASEAN website, and looked forward to further collaboration to promote digital literacy among ASEAN Member States.

38.       We discussed the pivotal role of education in ASEAN in promoting human resources development, bridging the development gap, enhancing regional competitiveness, promoting sustained economic development, and facilitating friendship and mutual understanding among people in the region. We recognized the United States as a longstanding educational resource and destination for students from ASEAN, and highlighted the desirability of increased opportunities for two-way academic exchanges and programmes. We looked forward to continued U.S. support for the ASEAN University Network (AUN), including through implementation of an ASEAN Studies course, which was launched in ASEAN universities in 2012. We welcomed the launch at the 7th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting in Yogyakarta in July 2012 of the U.S.-supported ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook as a manual for teachers to incorporate lessons on ASEAN into primary and secondary classrooms. We noted that the first group of students in the US$ 25 million Brunei-U.S English Language Enrichment Project for ASEAN started their training at Universiti Brunei Darussalam in September and will complete their training at the East-West Centre in Hawaii in December 2012.

39.       We acknowledged the consistent and productive engagement among the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, and are committed to work together to boost the capacity of ASEAN to address regional challenges. ASEAN appreciated the U.S. Mission to ASEAN's efforts in promoting frequent meetings and exchanges of views with visiting U.S. officials, which have enhanced common understanding of ASEAN and U.S. policies, and facilitated development and implementation of new programs. In this context, we noted the successful visit of the CPR in September 2012 to the United States. We noted the high-level engagement with the United States, including Secretary Clinton’s visit to the ASEAN Secretariat on 4 September 2012.

40.       We emphasized the importance of sustaining dialogue at the highest level and looked forward to the first ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Brunei Darussalam in 2013.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

Remarks by President Obama and Premier Wen Jiabao Before Bilateral Meeting

Peace Palace
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

11:40 A.M. ICT
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Well, it’s good to see Premier Wen again.  We last met at the East Asia Summit in Bali a year ago. 
 
It’s very important that we use multilateral meetings like the EAS to discuss shared regional and global challenges, and I’m committed to working with China and I’m committed to working with Asia.  It’s important that our two countries cooperate to build a more secure and prosperous future for the Asia Pacific region and for the world.
 
Premier Wen and I have also worked very closely together on our bilateral and global economic problems.  And as the two largest economies in the world, we have a special responsibility to lead the way in ensuring sustained and balanced growth, not only here in Asia but globally.
 
I very much believe that the cooperative and constructive approach that we’ve taken to our bilateral relations is good for both our countries and the world.  And it is very important that as two of the largest economies in the world, that we work to establish clear rules of the road internationally for trade and investment, which can increase prosperity and global growth.
 
So I very much appreciate Premier Wen’s engagement with the United States on these issues.  I’m sure this will be another honest and constructive conversation and will help to continue the process of strengthening the relationship between China and the United States.
 
PREMIER WEN:  (As interpreted.)  Mr. President, it is a great pleasure to see you again.  This is our fifth meeting.
 
Let me use this opportunity to first, once again, extend my congratulations to you, Mr. President, on your reelection, and I also wish to convey the best regards from President Hu Jintao and the newly-elected General Secretary Xi Jinping to you.
 
Mr. President, you have set out your vision on many occasions that you want to lead the United States to address various challenges more effectively, in particular to revitalize the economy, to create more jobs, and to enhance international security and cooperation.  I wish you all the best.
 
You and I share the view, Mr. President, that the China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.  The long-term sound and steady growth of China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interests of both countries.  It is also important for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific and the world.
 
I hope our meeting today will send out such a positive message to the world -- a positive message that both countries will remain committed to pursuing a cooperative partnership between the two sides based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.  Our two sides will continue to work together to strengthen and enhance our dialogue mechanisms, including the strategic and economic dialogues, the strategic security dialogue, and the high-level consultation on people-to-people exchange. 
 
We will enhance our business cooperation and engage in large-scale cooperation in economy and finance to use it as a means to tackle the difficulties we have and resolve the differences and disagreements between us.  Our two countries will enhance exchange and consultation on regional and international affairs, in particular to enhance our cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
 
Well, I believe we have a common will on all those important issues.  I look forward to an honest discussion with you today, Mr. President.
 
END
11:48 A.M. ICT
 

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 20, 2012

Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Noda of Japan Before Bilateral Meeting

Peace Palace

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

10:50 A.M. ICT
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I want to say how wonderful it is to see Prime Minister Noda again.  He very graciously called me shortly after the election.  And this becomes yet another opportunity for us to reaffirm the extraordinary alliance between our two countries.
 
That alliance between the United States and Japan has been a cornerstone of prosperity and security in the region, and we are going to have the opportunity to further discuss steps that we’re taking to renew that vision and that alliance for the 21st century.
 
In fact, in April, when Prime Minister Noda visited Washington, we released a joint vision statement that’s guiding that effort going forward to further strengthen our alliance.
 
And I’m sure we’ll also have an opportunity to discuss the economic issues that the world is facing right now.  As the world’s two -- two of the world’s largest economies, I think it’s going to be very important for us to continue to coordinate effectively to promote jobs and growth, trade and investment throughout the Asia Pacific region which has had a huge impact in the world. 
 
So I want to welcome the Prime Minister and look forward to a good conversation.
 
PRIME MINISTER NODA:  (As interpreted.)  President Obama, I would like to, first of all, again congratulate you on your reelection to your second term. 
 
I welcome the U.S. policy to place importance on the Asia Pacific region.  Basing on the shared vision that we announced in April, I would like to further cooperate and work in order to generate synergy effects between the policies of Japan and the United States.
 
With the increasing severity of the security environment in East Asia, the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance is increasing evermore.  Further, I would like to proceed with concrete cooperation to develop our alliance, and I hope to discuss this with you today.
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you very much, everybody.
 
END
10:54 A.M. ICT

On Board With President Obama - Rangoon, Burma

November 19, 2012 | 1:57 | Public Domain

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes speaks from the American Embassy in Rangoon, Burma, on President Obama's historic travel to that country. You can learn more about this trip and see additional photos at http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/issues/foreign-policy/asia-trip-2012.

Download mp4 (60.8MB)

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2012

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Retirement of Coach John Gagliardi

On behalf of the President, I want to congratulate John Gagliardi on his retirement as the winningest coach in college football history. 

Over the course of 64 seasons – 60 of them at his beloved Saint John’s – Gagliardi’s 486 wins put him among the greatest to ever coach the game.  With a career that began as a 16-year-old after his high school coach was called to serve in World War II, Gagliardi was never the most conventional figure.  He instructed his players to call him “John” instead of “Coach,” and in turn, called each of his more than 100 players by their first names.  His refusal to allow tackling in practice and his insistence that players make class before practice also became the stuff of legend.  But the unusual methods worked – earning St. John’s four national championships.  And even as his time on the gridiron comes to a close, Gagliardi’s genuine concern for players as scholar athletes and human beings will ensure that his influence will be felt for years to come.

President Obama Speaks at the University of Yangon

November 19, 2012 | 29:57 | Public Domain

On the first visit to Burma by an American president, President Obama speaks about the process of democratic reform in the country.

Download mp4 (1137MB) | mp3 (72MB)

Read the Transcript

Remarks by President Obama at the University of Yangon

Rangoon, Burma

2:39 P.M. MMT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Myanmar Naingan, Mingalaba!  (Laughter and applause.)  I am very honored to be here at this university and to be the first President of the United States of America to visit your country. 

I came here because of the importance of your country.  You live at the crossroads of East and South Asia.  You border the most populated nations on the planet.  You have a history that reaches back thousands of years, and the ability to help determine the destiny of the fastest growing region of the world.

I came here because of the beauty and diversity of your country.  I have seen just earlier today the golden stupa of Shwedagon, and have been moved by the timeless idea of metta -- the belief that our time on this Earth can be defined by tolerance and by love.  And I know this land reaches from the crowded neighborhoods of this old city to the homes of more than 60,000 villages; from the peaks of the Himalayas, the forests of Karen State, to the banks of the Irrawady River.

I came here because of my respect for this university.  It was here at this school where opposition to colonial rule first took hold.  It was here that Aung San edited a magazine before leading an independence movement.  It was here that U Thant learned the ways of the world before guiding it at the United Nations.  Here, scholarship thrived during the last century and students demanded their basic human rights.  Now, your Parliament has at last passed a resolution to revitalize this university and it must reclaim its greatness, because the future of this country will be determined by the education of its youth.

I came here because of the history between our two countries.  A century ago, American traders, merchants and missionaries came here to build bonds of faith and commerce and friendship.  And from within these borders in World War II, our pilots flew into China and many of our troops gave their lives.  Both of our nations emerged from the British Empire, and the United States was among the first countries to recognize an independent Union of Burma.  We were proud to found an American Center in Rangoon and to build exchanges with schools like this one.  And through decades of differences, Americans have been united in their affection for this country and its people.
 
Above all, I came here because of America’s belief in human dignity.  Over the last several decades, our two countries became strangers.  But today, I can tell you that we always remained hopeful about the people of this country, about you.  You gave us hope and we bore witness to your courage.

We saw the activists dressed in white visit the families of political prisoners on Sundays and monks dressed in saffron protesting peacefully in the streets.  We learned of ordinary people who organized relief teams to respond to a cyclone, and heard the voices of students and the beats of hip-hop artists projecting the sound of freedom.  We came to know exiles and refugees who never lost touch with their families or their ancestral home.  And we were inspired by the fierce dignity of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as she proved that no human being can truly be imprisoned if hope burns in your heart.

When I took office as President, I sent a message to those governments who ruled by fear.  I said, in my inauguration address, “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”  And over the last year and a half, a dramatic transition has begun, as a dictatorship of five decades has loosened its grip.  Under President Thein Sein, the desire for change has been met by an agenda for reform.  A civilian now leads the government, and a parliament is asserting itself.  The once-outlawed National League for Democracy stood in an election, and Aung San Suu Kyi is a Member of Parliament.  Hundreds of prisoners of conscience have been released, and forced labor has been banned.  Preliminary cease-fires have been reached with ethnic armies, and new laws allow for a more open economy.

So today, I’ve come to keep my promise and extend the hand of friendship.  America now has an Ambassador in Rangoon, sanctions have been eased, and we will help rebuild an economy that can offer opportunity for its people, and serve as an engine of growth for the world.  But this remarkable journey has just begun, and has much further to go.  Reforms launched from the top of society must meet the aspirations of citizens who form its foundation.  The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished -- they must be strengthened; they must become a shining North Star for all this nation’s people.

And your success in that effort is important to the United States, as well as to me.  Even though we come from different places, we share common dreams:  to choose our leaders; to live together in peace; to get an education and make a good living; to love our families and our communities.  That’s why freedom is not an abstract idea; freedom is the very thing that makes human progress possible -- not just at the ballot box, but in our daily lives.

One of our greatest Presidents in the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, understood this truth.  He defined America’s cause as more than the right to cast a ballot.  He understood democracy was not just voting.  He called upon the world to embrace four fundamental freedoms:  freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.  These four freedoms reinforce one another, and you cannot fully realize one without realizing them all. 

So that's the future that we seek for ourselves, and for all people.  And that is what I want to speak to you about today.

First, we believe in the right of free expression so that the voices of ordinary people can be heard, and governments reflect their will -- the people's will. 

In the United States, for more than two centuries, we have worked to keep this promise for all of our citizens -- to win freedom for those who were enslaved; to extend the right to vote for women and African Americans; to protect the rights of workers to organize. 

And we recognize no two nations achieve these rights in exactly the same way, but there is no question that your country will be stronger if it draws on the strength of all of its people.  That’s what allows nations to succeed.  That’s what reform has begun to do. 

Instead of being repressed, the right of people to assemble together must now be fully respected.  Instead of being stifled, the veil of media censorship must continue to be lifted.  And as you take these steps, you can draw on your progress.  Instead of being ignored, citizens who protested the construction of the Myitsone dam were heard.  Instead of being outlawed, political parties have been allowed to participate.  You can see progress being made.  As one voter said during the parliamentary elections here, “Our parents and grandparents waited for this, but never saw it.”  And now you can see it.  You can taste freedom.

And to protect the freedom of all the voters, those in power must accept constraints.  That's what our American system is designed to do.  Now, America may have the strongest military in the world, but it must submit to civilian control.  I, as the President of the United States, make determinations that the military then carries out, not the other way around.  As President and Commander-In-Chief, I have that responsibility because I'm accountable to the people. 

Now, on other hand, as President, I cannot just impose my will on Congress -- the Congress of the United States -- even though sometimes I wish I could.  The legislative branch has its own powers and its own prerogatives, and so they check my power and balance my power.  I appoint some of our judges, but I cannot tell them how to rule, because every person in America -- from a child living in poverty to me, the President of the United States -- is equal under the law.  And a judge can make a determination as to whether or not I am upholding the law or breaking the law.  And I am fully accountable to that law. 

And I describe our system in the United States because that's how you must reach for the future that you deserve -- a future where a single prisoner of conscience is one too many.  You need to reach for a future where the law is stronger than any single leader, because it's accountable to the people.  You need to reach for a future where no child is made to be a soldier and no woman is exploited, and where the laws protect them even if they're vulnerable, even if they're weak; a future where national security is strengthened by a military that serves under civilians and a Constitution that guarantees that only those who are elected by the people may govern. 

On that journey, America will support you every step of the way -- by using our assistance to empower civil society; by engaging your military to promote professionalism and human rights; and by partnering with you as you connect your progress towards democracy with economic development.  So advancing that journey will help you pursue a second freedom -- the belief that all people should be free from want.

It's not enough to trade a prison of powerlessness for the pain of an empty stomach.  But history shows that governments of the people and by the people and for the people are far more powerful in delivering prosperity.  And that's the partnership we seek with you.

When ordinary people have a say in their own future, then your land can’t just be taken away from you.  And that's why reforms must ensure that the people of this nation can have that most fundamental of possessions -- the right to own the title to the land on which you live and on which you work.

When your talents are unleashed, then opportunity will be created for all people.  America is lifting our ban on companies doing business here, and your government has lifted restrictions on investment and taken steps to open up your economy.  And now, as more wealth flows into your borders, we hope and expect that it will lift up more people.  It can't just help folks at the top.  It has to help everybody.  And that kind of economic growth, where everybody has opportunity -- if you work hard, you can succeed -- that's what gets a nation moving rapidly when it comes to develop. 

But that kind of growth can only be created if corruption is left behind.  For investment to lead to opportunity, reform must promote budgets that are transparent and industry that is privately owned. 

To lead by example, America now insists that our companies meet high standards of openness and transparency if they're doing business here.  And we'll work with organizations like the World Bank to support small businesses and to promote an economy that allows entrepreneurs, small businesspeople to thrive and allows workers to keep what they earn.  And I very much welcome your government’s recent decision to join what we've called our Open Government Partnership, so that citizens can come to expect accountability and learn exactly how monies are spent and how your system of government operates. 

Above all, when your voices are heard in government, it's far more likely that your basic needs will be met.  And that’s why reform must reach the daily lives of those who are hungry and those who are ill, and those who live without electricity or water.  And here, too, America will do our part in working with you. 

Today, I was proud to reestablish our USAID mission in this country, which is our lead development agency.  And the United States wants to be a partner in helping this country, which used to be the rice bowl of Asia, to reestablish its capacity to feed its people and to care for its sick, and educate its children, and build its democratic institutions as you continue down the path of reform.

This country is famous for its natural resources, and they must be protected against exploitation.  And let us remember that in a global economy, a country’s greatest resource is its people.  So by investing in you, this nation can open the door for far more prosperity -- because unlocking a nation’s potential depends on empowering all its people, especially its young people. 

Just as education is the key to America’s future, it is going to the be the key to your future as well.  And so we look forward to working with you, as we have with many of your neighbors, to extend that opportunity and to deepen exchanges among our students.  We want students from this country to travel to the United States and learn from us, and we want U.S. students to come here and learn from you.

And this truth leads me to the third freedom that I want to discuss:  the freedom to worship -- the freedom to worship as you please, and your right to basic human dignity.

This country, like my own country, is blessed with diversity.  Not everybody looks the same.  Not everybody comes from the same region.  Not everybody worships in the same way.  In your cities and towns, there are pagodas and temples, and mosques and churches standing side by side.  Well over a hundred ethnic groups have been a part of your story.  Yet within these borders, we’ve seen some of the world’s longest running insurgencies, which have cost countless lives, and torn families and communities apart, and stood in the way of development.

No process of reform will succeed without national reconciliation.  (Applause.)  You now have a moment of remarkable opportunity to transform cease-fires into lasting settlements, and to pursue peace where conflicts still linger, including in Kachin State.  Those efforts must lead to a more just and lasting peace, including humanitarian access to those in need, and a chance for the displaced to return home.

Today, we look at the recent violence in Rakhine State that has caused so much suffering, and we see the danger of continued tensions there.  For too long, the people of this state, including ethnic Rakhine, have faced crushing poverty and persecution.  But there is no excuse for violence against innocent people.  And the Rohingya hold themselves -- hold within themselves the same dignity as you do, and I do.

National reconciliation will take time, but for the sake of our common humanity, and for the sake of this country’s future, it is necessary to stop incitement and to stop violence.  And I welcome the government’s commitment to address the issues of injustice and accountability, and humanitarian access and citizenship.  That’s a vision that the world will support as you move forward.

Every nation struggles to define citizenship.  America has had great debates about these issues, and those debates continue to this day, because we’re a nation of immigrants -- people coming from every different part of the world.  But what we’ve learned in the United States is that there are certain principles that are universal, apply to everybody no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, no matter what religion you practice.  The right of people to live without the threat that their families may be harmed or their homes may be burned simply because of who they are or where they come from. 

Only the people of this country ultimately can define your union, can define what it means to be a citizen of this country.  But I have confidence that as you do that you can draw on this diversity as a strength and not a weakness.  Your country will be stronger because of many different cultures, but you have to seize that opportunity.  You have to recognize that strength. 

I say this because my own country and my own life have taught me the power of diversity.  The United States of America is a nation of Christians and Jews, and Muslims and Buddhists, and Hindus and non-believers.  Our story is shaped by every language; it’s enriched by every culture.  We have people from every corners of the world.  We’ve tasted the bitterness of civil war and segregation, but our history shows us that hatred in the human heart can recede; that the lines between races and tribes fade away.  And what’s left is a simple truth: e pluribus unum -- that’s what we say in America.  Out of many, we are one nation and we are one people.  And that truth has, time and again, made our union stronger.  It has made our country stronger.  It’s part of what has made America great.

We amended our Constitution to extend the democratic principles that we hold dear.  And I stand before you today as President of the most powerful nation on Earth, but recognizing that once the color of my skin would have denied me the right to vote.  And so that should give you some sense that if our country can transcend its differences, then yours can, too.  Every human being within these borders is a part of your nation’s story, and you should embrace that.  That’s not a source of weakness, that’s a source of strength -- if you recognize it.

And that brings me to the final freedom that I will discuss today, and that is the right of all people to live free from fear.

In many ways, fear is the force that stands between human beings and their dreams.  Fear of conflict and the weapons of war.  Fear of a future that is different from the past.  Fear of changes that are reordering our societies and economy.  Fear of people who look different, or come from a different place, or worship in a different way.  In some of her darkest moments, when Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned, she wrote an essay about freedom from fear.  She said fear of losing corrupts those who wield it -- “Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it, and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”

That's the fear that you can leave behind.  We see that chance in leaders who are beginning to understand that power comes from appealing to people’s hopes, not people's fears.  We see it in citizens who insist that this time must be different, that this time change will come and will continue.  As Aung San Suu Kyi wrote: “Fear is not the natural state of civilized man.”  I believe that.  And today, you are showing the world that fear does not have to be the natural state of life in this country.

That’s why I am here.  That’s why I came to Rangoon.  And that’s why what happens here is so important -- not only to this region, but to the world.  Because you're taking a journey that has the potential to inspire so many people.  This is a test of whether a country can transition to a better place.

The United States of America is a Pacific nation, and we see our future as bound to those nations and peoples to our West.  And as our economy recovers, this is where we believe we will find enormous growth.  As we have ended the wars that have dominated our foreign policy for a decade, this region will be a focus for our efforts to build a prosperous peace.

Here in Southeast Asia, we see the potential for integration among nations and people.  And as President, I have embraced ASEAN for reasons that go beyond the fact that I spent some of my childhood in this region, in Indonesia.  Because with ASEAN, we see nations that are on the move -- nations that are growing, and democracies that are emerging; governments that are cooperating; progress that’s building on the diversity that spans oceans and islands and jungles and cities, peoples of every race and every religion.  This is what the 21st century should look like if we have the courage to put aside our differences and move forward with a sense of mutual interest and mutual respect.

And here in Rangoon, I want to send a message across Asia: We don’t need to be defined by the prisons of the past.  We need to look forward to the future.  To the leadership of North Korea, I have offered a choice:  let go of your nuclear weapons and choose the path of peace and progress.  If you do, you will find an extended hand from the United States of America.

In 2012, we don’t need to cling to the divisions of East, West and North and South.  We welcome the peaceful rise of China, your neighbor to the North; and India, your neighbor to the West.  The United Nations -- the United States will work with any nation, large or small, that will contribute to a world that is more peaceful and more prosperous, and more just and more free.  And the United States will be a friend to any nation that respects the rights of its citizens and the responsibilities of international law.  

That's the nation, that's the world that you can start to build here in this historic city.  This nation that's been so isolated can show the world the power of a new beginning, and demonstrate once again that the journey to democracy goes hand in hand with development.  I say this knowing that there are still countless people in this country who do not enjoy the opportunities that many of you seated here do.  There are tens of millions who have no electricity.  There are prisoners of conscience who still await release.  There are refugees and displaced peoples in camps where hope is still something that lies on the distant horizon.

Today, I say to you -- and I say to everybody that can hear my voice -- that the United States of America is with you, including those who have been forgotten, those who are dispossessed, those who are ostracized, those who are poor.  We carry your story in our heads and your hopes in our hearts, because in this 21st century with the spread of technology and the breaking down of barriers, the frontlines of freedom are within nations and individuals, not simply between them.

As one former prisoner put it in speaking to his fellow citizens, “Politics is your job.  It’s not only for [the] politicians.”  And we have an expression in the United States that the most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen -- not President, not Speaker, but citizen.  (Applause.)

So as extraordinary and difficult and challenging and sometimes frustrating as this journey may seem, in the end, you, the citizens of this country, are the ones who must define what freedom means.  You're the ones who are going to have to seize freedom, because a true revolution of the spirit begins in each of our hearts.  It requires the kind of courage that so many of your leaders have already displayed. 

The road ahead will be marked by huge challenges, and there will be those who resist the forces of change.  But I stand here with confidence that something is happening in this country that cannot be reversed, and the will of the people can lift up this nation and set a great example for the world.  And you will have in the United States of America a partner on that long journey.  So, cezu tin bad de.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  (Applause.)

END  
3:10 P.M. MMT


 

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The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
November 19, 2012

Readout of the President's Call with President Morsi of Egypt

Following the dinner tonight, President Obama called President Morsi of Egypt. The two leaders discussed ways to de-escalate the situation in Gaza, and President Obama underscored the necessity of Hamas ending rocket fire into Israel. President Obama also offered condolences for the terrible loss of life in the recent train accident in Egypt. President Obama then called Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, and received an update on the situation in Gaza and Israel. In both calls, President Obama expressed regret for the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives, and agreed to stay in close touch with both leaders.