Remarks by the President at Farewell Tribute in Honor of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Fort Myer, Virginia

4:37 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Michelle and I, as some of you know, just spent the past few days in India.  I returned about 3 o’clock this morning.  So I don't know exactly what time it is.  (Laughter.)  Or what day it is.  But I was determined to be here with you this afternoon to honor and celebrate a great friend -- to me, and to all of us.

In October of 1967, President Lyndon Johnson traveled to a military base in New Mexico to review a top-secret weapons program.  And he went down to the White Sands Missile Range and out to the testing grounds.  There, out in the desert, the President watched as soldiers demonstrated what would later become the famed Stinger missile.  And one of those soldiers was a 21-year-old private from Nebraska named Charles Timothy Hagel.

Now, the Secret Service does not usually let me get too close to an active weapons system.  It makes them nervous.  But, clearly, they did things a little differently back in LBJ’s days. And, Chuck, I can only assume that you were careful not to point the missile at the President -- because what followed was a life of dedicated service to our nation spanning nearly 50 years.

Vice President Biden, members of Congress, General Dempsey, leaders from across this department, members of the Joint Chiefs and service secretaries; to the men and women of the greatest military in the world -- we gather to pay tribute to a true American patriot.  And let me assure you that I checked with the Secret Service, and Chuck will not be demonstrating any missile launchers today.  (Laughter.) 

As we all know, and we've have heard again, Chuck loves  Nebraska.  The Cornhuskers.  Red beer.  Runzas -- I don’t know what those are, but I hear they taste pretty good.  (Laughter.)  But above all, what Chuck loves most about his home state is the people -- his fellow Midwesterners.  There are just under 2 million people in Nebraska; there are more than 7 billion people on the planet.  But as so many of our troops have found out themselves, no matter where Chuck goes in the world -- if you are from Nebraska, he will find you.  (Laughter.)  And he’ll talk with you and listen to you, and ask you about your family back home -- and chances are, he knows them, too.

So today is a celebration of a quintessentially American life -- a man from the heartland who devoted his life to America. Just imagine, in your mind’s eye, the defining moments of his life.  The kid from Nebraska who, as Marty said, volunteered to go to Vietnam.  The soldier outside Saigon, rushing to pull his own brother from a burning APC.  The deputy at the VA who stood up for his fellow Vietnam vets who were exposed to Agent Orange. The senator who helped lead the fight for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, to give this generation of heroes the same opportunities that he had.       

I asked Chuck to lead this department at a moment of profound transition.  And today we express our gratitude for the progress under his watch.  After more than 13 years, our combat mission in Afghanistan is over, and America’s longest war has come to a responsible and honorable end.  Because of Chuck’s direction, a strategic review has made difficult choices in a time of tight budgets, while still making sure that our forces are ready to be called on for any contingency. 

Today, our troops are supporting Afghan forces.  They continue to face risks, and they remain relentless in their pursuit of al Qaeda networks.  They’re leading the coalition to destroy ISIL -- a coalition that includes Arab nations, in no small measure because Chuck strengthened key partnerships in the Middle East.  And under his leadership, our forces in West Africa are helping to lead the global fight against Ebola -- saving lives and showing American leadership at its very, very best.

Even as we’ve met these pressing challenges, Chuck has helped us to prepare for the century ahead.  In Europe, a stronger NATO is reassuring our allies.  In the Asia Pacific -- one of my foreign policy priorities -- Chuck helped modernize our alliances, strengthen partnerships, bolster defense posture, improve communication between the United States and Chinese militaries -- all of which helps to ensure that the United States remains a strong Pacific power. 

Because Chuck helped build new trust, we’ll expand our defense cooperation with India.  I just demonstrated during my visit there the degree to which that partnership is moving in a new direction.  That's partly attributable to work that Chuck did.

And the reforms he launched will help make this department more efficient and innovative for years to come.  Thanks to Secretary Hagel’s guiding hand, this institution is better positioned for the future.     

But, Chuck, I want to suggest today that perhaps your greatest impact -- a legacy that will be felt for decades to come -- has been your own example.  It’s not simply that you’ve been the first enlisted combat veteran and the first Vietnam veteran to serve as Secretary of Defense.  It’s how your life experience -- being down in the mud, feeling the bullets fly overhead -- has allowed you to connect with our troops like no other Secretary before you.

You’ve welcomed our junior enlisted personnel to lunch in your office and made them feel at home, and they told you what was really on their minds.  When you spoke to our newest sergeant majors about the true meaning of leadership and responsibility, they knew they were learning from one of their own.  And in those quiet moments, when you’ve pinned a Purple Heart on a wounded warrior, you were there not just as a Secretary of Defense, but as an old Army sergeant who knows the wages of war and still carries the shrapnel in your chest.

These aren’t fleeting moments; they reflect the driving force of Chuck Hagel’s service -- his love of our troops, and his determination to take care of them after more than 13 years of war.  Today, our military hospitals are getting stronger, our women are more integrated into the force than ever before.  We’re making progress in combating sexual assault.  We’ll bring home the remains of fallen heroes faster, and more Vietnam veterans will finally be eligible for the disability pay they deserved all along.  And, Chuck, that’s because of you.  That’s part of your legacy.

Of course, I’m grateful to Chuck on a very personal level.  Exactly 10 years ago this month, I joined you in the United States Senate, along with the Vice President.  I was new and green; you were a veteran legislator.  I was the student, and you shared some of the lessons of your service.  I was young and you were -- well.  (Laughter.)  And though we came from different parties, we often saw the world the same way, including our conviction that even as we must never hesitate to defend our nation, we must never rush into war.  We both believed that America should only send her sons and daughters into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary.  And when we do, we make sure they’ve got everything that they need to succeed; they’ve got a mission that is worthy of their sacrifice.

In an era of politics that too often descends into spectacle, you’ve always served with decency and dignity.  And in a town of outsized egos, you’ve never lost your Midwestern humility.  You’ve always been frank and honest and said what you thought.  And I have so profoundly benefitted from that candor.  You represent a tradition of bipartisanship in national security that we need more of today.  Joe Biden reflects that.  I see Dick Lugar in the stands -- he reflects that.  That’s when we’re at our best.  And from sergeant to secretary, you’ve always been guided by one interest: what you believe is best for America.  And I thank you for your friendship and your counsel, and all of us thank you for your character and your integrity.

Of course, nobody serves alone.  Lilibet, Allyn, Ziller --thank you for sharing your husband and father with us, and for the sacrifices that your family has made for all of ours.  And, Chuck, since our lives are so often the reflection of those closest to us, today I also want to acknowledge the service of your brother, Tom; the World War II service of your father, Charles; the sacrifices of your late mom, Betty, who worked day and night to raise her four sons.  We salute this American family.   

Our men and women in uniform here today, those who stand where Chuck once stood, they don’t ask for much.  They volunteered; they accept the risks that come with military service.  But they do ask this:  that this nation take care of them as well as they’ve taken care of us; that we provide them with the resources to do their jobs and meet the missions that we ask of them.  After all that they have given for us, after all that they’ve sacrificed, they have the right to expect that we will meet our obligations as well.  And that’s my duty as Commander-in-Chief.  And this will be the work of my nominee to be the next Secretary of Defense -- Mr. Ash Carter.  But this must be the work of us all, as Americans grateful to those who serve in our name.  And that’s the story of Chuck Hagel’s life. 

I’ll close with a story that came about last year.  I was going to tell the story about when we were traveling in Iraq, and Chuck wore these pair of sort of Hush Puppy bedroom slipper shoes out into the dessert, and the flaps started opening up and his toes were sticking out.  But I’m going to skip that story.  (Laughter.)  He then ended up buying me a pair -- which I have never worn, I’m proud to say.  (Laughter.) 

This is a different story.  One day last year I was in the Oval Office, and Chuck came in for what I thought would be our regular weekly meeting.  But he had a guest, and he introduced us.  His name was Jerome “Skip” Johnson -- a friendly guy, a grandfather, and he was from my hometown of Chicago.  And Chuck explained that Skip -- Lieutenant Johnson -- had been his platoon commander in Vietnam.  But they had lost touch, until Chuck tracked him down.  This was the first time they had reunited in nearly 50 years.  And Chuck just wanted to bring Skip to the Oval Office to say hello to the President -- to meet his family, including his young grandsons.

And Chuck told me about how it had been 1968, with protests and race riots back home, causing tensions among our troops in Vietnam.  And Chuck’s unit was mostly white, but Skip is African American, and as the platoon’s commander he wasn’t going to tolerate any division or distrust.  And he went to his men and made himself clear:  We are all Americans.  We’re going to live together.  We’re going to take care of each other.  We’re fighting together.  We’re going to get each other’s backs.  Let’s get it done. 

And at that moment in the Oval Office, as these two soldiers stood before me -- with Skip’s grandsons looking on -- it wasn’t lost on any of us how far our nation has come.  And I want to thank Chuck for that moment, because part of the reason we’ve traveled that distance is we’ve had men like Chuck Hagel serving and representing what’s best in America. 

In moments when we are tested -- as a military, as a nation -- sometimes we get distracted by what divides us and lose sight of what unites us.  And at those moments, we can draw strength from the example of a sergeant from Nebraska and a lieutenant from Chicago.  We are all Americans.  We live together.  We sacrifice together.  We take care of each other.  Sometimes we have to fight together. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce to you my friend, our 24th Secretary of Defense, and an outstanding American -- Mr. Chuck Hagel.  (Applause.)

END
4:51 P.M. EST

Remarks by President Obama in Address to the People of India

Siri Fort Auditorium
New Delhi, India

11:02 A.M. IST
 
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Namaste!  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you so much, Neha, for what a wonderful introduction.  (Applause.)  Everybody, please have a seat.  Nothing fills me with more hope than when I hear incredible young people like Neha and all the outstanding work that she’s doing on behalf of India’s youth and for representing this nation’s energy and its optimism and its idealism.  She makes me very, very proud.  And I’m sure -- I think they may be her -- is that somebody related to you?  Okay.  Because we just had a chance to meet, and she’s beaming with pride right now sitting next to you.  Give Neha a big round of applause once again.  (Applause.)
 
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, to all the students and young people who are here today, to the people of India watching and listening across this vast nation -- I bring the friendship and the greetings of the American people.  On behalf of myself and Michelle, thank you so much for welcoming us back to India.  Bahoot dhanyavad.  (Applause.)   
 
It has been a great honor to be the first American President to join you for Republic Day.  With the tricolor waving above us, we celebrated the strength of your constitution.  We paid tribute to India’s fallen heroes.  In yesterday’s parade, we saw the pride and the diversity of this nation -- including the Dare Devils on their Royal Enfields, which was very impressive.  Secret Service does not let me ride motorcycles.  (Laughter.)  Especially not on my head.  (Laughter.)
 
I realize that the sight of an American President as your chief guest on Republic Day would have once seemed unimaginable.  But my visit reflects the possibilities of a new moment.  As I’ve said many times, I believe that the relationship between India and the United States can be one of the defining partnerships of this century.  When I spoke to your Parliament on my last visit, I laid out my vision for how our two nations can build that partnership.  And today, I want to speak directly to you -- the people of India -- about what I believe we can achieve together, and how we can do it.
 
My commitment to a new chapter between our countries flows from the deep friendship between our people.  And Michelle and I have felt it ourselves.  I recognized India with the first state visit of my presidency -- where we also danced to some pretty good Bhangra.  (Laughter.)  For the first time, we brought Diwali to the White House.  (Applause.)  On our last celebration here, we celebrated the Festival of Lights in Mumbai.  We danced with some children.  Unfortunately, we were not able to schedule any dancing this visit.  Senorita, bade-bade deshon mein.  You know what I mean.  (Laughter and applause.)  Everybody said, by the way, how much better a dance Michelle was than me -- (laughter) -- which hurt my feelings a little bit.  (Laughter.)
 
On a more personal level, India represents an intersection of two men who have always inspired me.  When Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was protesting racial segregation in the United States, he said that his guiding light was Mahatma Gandhi.  When Dr. King came to India, he said that being here -- in “Gandhi’s land” -- reaffirmed his conviction that in the struggle for justice and human dignity, the most potent weapon of all is non-violent resistance.   And those two great souls are why we can gather here together today, Indians and Americans, equal and free.
 
And there is another link that binds us.  More than 100 years ago, America welcomed a son of India -- Swami Vivekananda.  (Applause.)  And Swami Vivekananda, he helped bring Hinduism and yoga to our country.  And he came to my hometown of Chicago.  And there, at a great gathering of religious leaders, he spoke of his faith and the divinity in every soul, and the purity of love.  And he began his speech with a simple greeting:  “Sisters and brothers of America.”
 
So today, let me say:  Sisters and brothers of India -- (applause) -- my confidence in what our nations can achieve together is rooted in the values we share.  For we may have our different histories and speak different languages, but when we look at each other, we see a reflection of ourselves. 
 
Having thrown off colonialism, we created constitutions that began with the same three words -- “we the people.”  As societies that celebrate knowledge and innovation, we transformed ourselves into high-tech hubs of the global economy.  Together, we unlock new discoveries -- from the particles of creation to outer space -- two nations to have gone to both the Moon and to Mars.  (Applause.)  And here in India, this dynamism has resulted in a stunning achievement.  You’ve lifted countless millions from poverty and built one of the world’s largest middle classes.
 
And nobody embodies this progress and this sense of possibility more than our young people.  Empowered by technology, you are connecting and collaborating like never before -- on Facebook and WhatsApp and Twitter.  And chances are, you’re talking to someone in America -- your friends, your cousins.  The United States has the largest Indian diaspora in the world, including some three million proud Indian-Americans.  (Applause.)  And they make America stronger, and they tie us together -- bonds of family and friendship that allow us to share in each other’s success.
 
For all these reasons, India and the United States are not just natural partners.  I believe America can be India’s best partner.  I believe that.  (Applause.)  Of course, only Indians can decide India’s role in the world.  But I’m here because I’m absolutely convinced that both our peoples will have more jobs and opportunity, and our nations will be more secure, and the world will be a safer and a more just place when our two democracies -- the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy -- stand together.  I believe that.  (Applause.) 
 
So here in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi and I have begun this work anew.  And here’s what I think we can do together.  America wants to be your partner as you lift up the lives of the Indian people and provide greater opportunity.  So working together, we’re giving farmers new techniques and data -- from our satellites to their cell phones -- to increase yields and boost incomes.  We’re joining you in your effort to empower every Indian with a bank account. 
 
And with the breakthroughs we achieved on this visit, we can finally move toward fully implementing our civil nuclear agreement, which will mean more reliable electricity for Indians and cleaner, non-carbon energy that helps fight climate change.   (Applause.)  And I don’t have to describe for you what more electricity means.  Students being able to study at night; businesses being able to stay open longer and hire more workers; farmers being able to use mechanized tools that increase their productivity; whole communities seeing more prosperity.  In recent years, India has lifted more people out of poverty than any other country.  And now we have a historic opportunity with India leading the way to end the injustice of extreme poverty all around the world.  (Applause.)
 
America wants to be your partner as you protect the health of your people and the beauty of this land, from the backwaters of Kerala to the banks of Ganges.  As we deliver more energy, more electricity, let’s do it with clean, renewable energy, like solar and wind.  And let’s put cleaner vehicles on the road and more filtration systems on farms and villages.  Because every child should be able to drink clean water, and every child should be able to breathe clean air.  (Applause.)  We need our young people healthy for their futures.  And we can do it.  We have the technology to do it.
 
America wants to be your partner in igniting the next wave of Indian growth.  As India pursues more trade and investment, we want to be first in line.  We’re ready to join you in building new infrastructure -- the roads and the airports, the ports, the bullet trains to propel India into the future.  We’re ready to help design “smart cities” that serve citizens better, and we want to develop more advanced technologies with India, as we do with our closest allies.  
 
We believe we can be even closer partners in ensuring our mutual security.  And both our nations have known the anguish of terrorism, and we stand united in the defense of our people.  And now we’re deepening our defense cooperation against new challenges.  The United States welcomes a greater role for India in the Asia Pacific, where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and disputes must be resolved peacefully.  And even as we acknowledge the world as it is, we must never stop working for the world as it should be -- a world without nuclear weapons.  That should be a goal for all of us.  (Applause.)
 
I believe that if we’re going to be true global partners, then our two nations must do more around the world together.  So to ensure international security and peace, multilateral institutions created in the 20th century have to be updated for the 21st.  And that’s why I support a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.  (Applause.)   
 
Of course, as I’ve said before, with power comes responsibility.  In this region, India can play a positive role in helping countries forge a better future, from Burma to Sri Lanka, where today there’s new hope for democracy.  With your experience in elections, you can help other countries with theirs.  With your expertise in science and medicine, India can do more around the world to fight disease and develop new vaccines, and help us end the moral outrage of even a single child dying from a preventable disease.  Together, we can stand up against human trafficking and work to end the scourge of modern day slavery.  (Applause.)   
 
And being global partners means confronting the urgent global challenge of climate change.  With rising seas, melting Himalayan glaciers, more unpredictable monsoons, cyclones getting stronger -- few countries will be more affected by a warmer planet than India.  And the United States recognizes our part in creating this problem, so we’re leading the global effort to combat it.  And today, I can say that America’s carbon pollution is near its lowest level in almost two decades. 
 
I know the argument made by some that it’s unfair for countries like the United States to ask developing nations and emerging economies like India to reduce your dependence on the same fossil fuels that helped power our growth for more than a century.  But here’s the truth:  Even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if countries that are growing rapidly like India -- with soaring energy needs -- don't also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don’t stand a chance against climate change.
 
So we welcome India’s ambitious targets for generating more clean energy.  We’ll continue to help India deal with the impacts of climate change -- because you shouldn’t have to bear that burden alone.  As we keep working for a strong global agreement on climate change, it's young people like you who have to speak up, so we can protect this planet for your generation.  I'll be gone when the worst effects happen.  It's your generation and your children that are going to be impacted.  That's why it's urgent that we begin this work right now.
 
Development that lifts up the lives and health of our people.  Trade and economic partnerships that reduce poverty and create opportunity.  Leadership in the world that defends our security, and advances human dignity, and protects our planet -- that’s what I believe India and America can do together.  So with the rest of my time, I want to discuss how we can do it.  Because in big and diverse societies like ours, progress ultimately depends on something more basic, and that is how we see each other.  And we know from experience what makes nations strong.
And Neha I think did a great job of describing the essence of what’s important here. 
 
We are strongest when we see the inherent dignity in every human being.  Look at our countries -- the incredible diversity even here in this hall.  India is defined by countless languages and dialects, and every color and caste and creed, gender and orientations.  And likewise, in America, we’re black and white, and Latino and Asian, and Indian-American, and Native American.  Your constitution begins with the pledge to uphold “the dignity of the individual.”  And our Declaration of Independence proclaims that “all men are created equal.”
 
In both our countries, generations have worked to live up to these ideals.  When he came to India, Martin Luther King, Jr. was introduced to some schoolchildren as a “fellow untouchable.”  My grandfather was a cook for the British army in Kenya.  The distant branches of Michelle’s family tree include both slaves and slave owners.  When we were born, people who looked like us still couldn’t vote in some parts of the country.  Even as America has blessed us with extraordinary opportunities, there were moments in my life where I’ve been treated differently because of the color of my skin. 
 
Many countries, including the United States, grapple with questions of identity and inequality, and how we treat each other, people who are different than us, how we deal with diversity of beliefs and of faiths.  Right now, in crowded neighborhoods not far from here, a man is driving an auto-rickshaw, or washing somebody else’s clothes, or doing the hard work no one else will do.  And a woman is cleaning somebody else’s house.  And a young man is on a bicycle delivering lunch. A little girl is hauling a heavy bucket of water.  And I believe their dreams, their hopes, are just as important, just as beautiful, just as worthy as ours.  And so even as we live in a world of terrible inequality, we’re also proud to live in countries where even the grandson of a cook can become President, or even a Dalit can help write a constitution, and even a tea seller can become Prime Minister.  (Applause.) 
 
The point is, is that the aim of our work must be not to just have a few do well, but to have everybody have a chance, everybody who is willing to work for it have the ability to dream big and then reach those dreams. 
 
Our nations are strongest when we uphold the equality of all our people -- and that includes our women.  (Applause.)  Now, you may have noticed, I’m married to a very strong and talented woman.  (Applause.)  Michelle is not afraid to speak her mind, or tell me when I’m wrong -- which happens frequently.  (Laughter.) And we have two beautiful daughters, so I’m surrounded by smart, strong women.  And in raising our girls, we’ve tried to instill in them basic values -- a sense of compassion for others, and respect for themselves, and the confidence that they can go as far as their imaginations and abilities will carry them.  And as part of Michelle’s work as First Lady, she’s met with women and girls around the world, including here in India, to let them know that America believes in them, too.
 
In the United States, we’re still working to make sure that women and girls have all the opportunities they deserve, and that they’re treated equally.  And we have some great role models, including here today the former speaker of our House of Representatives -- Nancy Pelosi -- (applause) -- the first woman speaker of the House, and my great partner.  (Applause.)
 
And here in India, it’s the wives and the mothers who so often hold families and communities together.  Indian women have shown that they can succeed in every field -- including government, where many of your leaders are women.  And the young women who are here today are part of a new generation that is making your voice heard, and standing up and determined to play your part in India’s progress.
 
And here’s what we know.  We know from experience that nations are more successful when their women are successful.  (Applause.)  When girls go to school -- this is one of the most direct measures of whether a nation is going to develop effectively is how it treats its women.  When a girl goes to school, it doesn’t just open up her young mind, it benefits all of us -- because maybe someday she’ll start her own business, or invent a new technology, or cure a disease.  And when women are able to work, families are healthier, and communities are wealthier, and entire countries are more prosperous.  And when young women are educated, then their children are going to be well educated and have more opportunity. 
 
So if nations really want to succeed in today’s global economy, they can’t simply ignore the talents of half their people.  And as husbands and fathers and brothers, we have to step up -- because every girl’s life matters.  Every daughter deserves the same chance as our sons.  Every woman should be able to go about her day -- to walk the streets or ride the bus -- and be safe, and be treated with respect and dignity.  (Applause.)  She deserves that.  (Applause.) 
   
And one of the favorite things about this trip for me has been to see all these incredible Indian women in the armed forces, including the person who commanded the Guard that greeted me when I arrived.  (Applause.)  It's remarkable, and it's a sign of great strength and great progress.
 
Our nations are strongest when we see that we are all God’s children -- all equal in His eyes and worthy of His love.  Across our two great countries we have Hindus and Muslims, Christians and Sikhs, and Jews and Buddhists and Jains and so many faiths.  And we remember the wisdom of Gandhiji, who said, “for me, the different religions are beautiful flowers from the same garden, or they are branches of the same majestic tree.”  (Applause.)    Branches of the same majestic tree.
 
Our freedom of religion is written into our founding documents.  It’s part of America’s very first amendment.  Your Article 25 says that all people are “equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion.”  In both our countries -- in all countries
-- upholding this fundamental freedom is the responsibility of government, but it's also the responsibility of every person.
 
In our lives, Michelle and I have been strengthened by our Christian faith.  But there have been times where my faith has been questioned -- by people who don’t know me -- or they’ve said that I adhere to a different religion, as if that were somehow a bad thing.  Around the world, we’ve seen intolerance and violence and terror perpetrated by those who profess to be standing up for their faith, but, in fact, are betraying it.  No society is immune from the darkest impulses of man.  And too often religion has been used to tap into those darker impulses as opposed to the light of God.  Three years ago in our state of Wisconsin, back in the United States, a man went to a Sikh temple and, in a terrible act of violence, killed six innocent people -- Americans and Indians.  And in that moment of shared grief, our two countries reaffirmed a basic truth, as we must again today -- that every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose, or to practice no faith at all, and to do so free of persecution and fear and discrimination.  (Applause.) 
 
The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts.  And it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe, and rejoice in the beauty of every soul.  And nowhere is that more important than India.  Nowhere is it going to be more necessary for that foundational value to be upheld.  India will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith -- so long as it's not splintered along any lines -- and is unified as one nation.
And it’s when all Indians, whatever your faith, go to the movies and applaud actors like Shah Rukh Khan.  And when you celebrate athletes like Milkha Singh or Mary Kom.  And every Indian can take pride in the courage of a humanitarian who liberates boys and girls from forced labor and exploitation -- who is here today -- Kailash Satyarthi.  (Applause.)  Our most recent winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace.  (Applause.)
 
So that's what unifies us:  Do we act with compassion and empathy.  Are we measured by our efforts -- by what Dr. King called “the content of our character” rather than the color of our skin or the manner in which we worship our God.  In both our countries, in India and in America, our diversity is our strength.  And we have to guard against any efforts to divide ourselves along sectarian lines or any other lines.  And if we do that well, if America shows itself as an example of its diversity and yet the capacity to live together and work together in common effort, in common purpose; if India, as massive as it is, with so much diversity, so many differences is able to continually affirm its democracy, that is an example for every other country on Earth.  That's what makes us world leaders -- not just the size of our economy or the number of weapons we have, but our ability to show the way in how we work together, and how much respect we show each other.  

And, finally, our nations are strongest when we empower our young people –- because ultimately, you're the one who has to break down these old stereotypes and these old barriers, these old ways of thinking.  Prejudices and stereotypes and assumptions -- those are what happens to old minds like mine.  I'm getting gray hair now.  I was more youthful when I first started this office.  And that’s why young people are so important in these efforts.
 
Here in India, most people are under 35 years old.  And India is on track to become the world’s most populous country.  So young Indians like you aren’t just going to define the future of this nation, you’re going to shape the world.  Like young people everywhere, you want to get an education, and find a good job, and make your mark.  And it’s not easy, but in our two countries, it’s possible.
 
Remember, Michelle and I don't come from wealthy backgrounds or famous families.  Our families didn’t have a lot of money.  We did have parents and teachers and communities that cared about us.  And with the help of scholarships and student loans, we were able to attend some of best schools of the world.  Without that education, we wouldn’t be here today.  So whether it’s in America, or here in India, or around the world, we believe young people like you ought to have every chance to pursue your dreams, as well. 
 
So as India builds new community colleges, we’ll link you with our own, so more young people graduate with the skills and training to succeed.  We’ll increase collaborations between our colleges and universities, and help create the next India institute of technology.  We’ll encourage young entrepreneurs who want to start a business.  And we’ll increase exchanges, because I want more American students coming to India, and more Indian students coming to America.  (Applause.)  And that way, we can learn from each other and we can go further.  Because one other thing we have in common Indians and Americans are some of the hardest working people on Earth.  (Applause.) 
 
And I’ve seen that -- Michelle and I have seen that in a family here in India.  I just want to tell you a quick story.  On our last visit here, we visited Humayun’s Tomb.  And while we were there, we met some of the laborers who are the backbone of this nation’s progress.  We met their children and their families as well -- and some wonderful young children with bright smiles, sparks in their eyes.  And one of the children we met was a boy named Vishal.
 
And today, Vishal is 16 years old.  And he and his family live in South Delhi, in the village of Mor Band.  (Applause.)  And his mother works hard in their modest home, and his sister is now in university; she wants to become a teacher.  His brother is a construction worker earning his daily wage.  And his father works as a stone layer, farther away, but sends home what little he makes so Vishal can go to school.  And Vishal loves math, and mostly, he studies.  And when he’s not studying, he likes watching kabaddi.  And he dreams of someday joining the Indian armed forces.  (Applause.)  And we're grateful that Vishal and his family joined us today.  We're very proud of him, because he’s an example of the talent that’s here.  And Vishal’s dreams are as important as Malia and Sasha’s dreams, our daughters.  And we want him to have the same opportunities. 
 
Sisters and brothers of India, we are not perfect countries. And we’ve known tragedy and we've known triumph.  We’re home to glittering skyscrapers, but also terrible poverty; and new wealth, but also rising inequality.  We have many challenges in front of us.  But the reason I stand here today, and am so optimistic about our future together, is that, despite our imperfections, our two nations possess the keys to progress in the century ahead.  We vote in free elections.  We work and we build and we innovate.  We lift up the least among us.  We reach for heights previous generations could not even imagine.  We respect human rights and human dignity, and it is recorded in our constitutions.   And we keep striving to live up to those ideals put to paper all those years ago.
 
And we do these things because they make our lives better and safer and more prosperous.  But we also do them because our moral imaginations extend beyond the limits of our own lives.  And we believe that the circumstances of our birth need not dictate the arc of our lives.  We believe in the father working far from home sending money back so his family might have a better life.  We believe in the mother who goes without so that her children might have something more.  We believe in the laborer earning his daily wage, and the student pursuing her degree.  And we believe in a young boy who knows that if he just keeps studying, if he’s just given the chance, his hopes might be realized, too.
 
We are all “beautiful flowers from the same garden…branches of the same majestic tree.”  And I'm the first American President to come to your country twice, but I predict I will not be the last.  (Applause.)  Because, as Americans, we believe in the promise of India.  We believe in the people of India.  We are proud to be your friend.  We are proud to be your partner as you build the country of your dreams. 
 
Jai Hind!  (Applause.)  Thank you.
 
END   
11:36 A.M. IST

Remarks by Vice President Biden on the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative

State Department
Washington, D.C. 

2:33 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Mr. Prime Minister, it’s a pleasure to be with you.  And, Fred, the Atlantic Council has done an incredible job, and you're continued focus and commitment matters and forces everyone else to focus.  And, Mack McLarty, an old, old friend, the Council of the Americas has been your -- how can I say it -- your passion for a long time.  And it’s very much appreciated.

Presidents, Prime Ministers, representatives from the international community, the private sector, and -- if you excuse, as we used to say when I was a senator, a point of personal privilege, Adrienne Arsht.  Where are you, Adrienne?  She is -- there you go.  This woman is a fellow Delawarean.  We grew up together.  She was seven; I was 21.  (Laughter.)  And she is following in the footsteps of her incredible parents in all the incredibly good things you've been doing, not the least of which is this Latin American Center you've set up.  Thank you, Adrienne.

As Fred said, this is not the first time we’ve gathered to discuss energy security.  And for years it’s sort of been the same story.  But I want to make a point at the outset here that is different.  I have been given -- how can I say it -- the authority to move this issue for us, but the President of the United States -- President Obama -- has made it absolutely clear that both the Caribbean and Central America energy and security are, in fact, primary issues for us.

My dad used to have an expression.  He said, if everything is equally important to you, nothing is important to you.  This is extremely important to us.  It’s overwhelmingly in the interest of the United States of America that we get it right, and that this relationship changes for the better across the board.  So I want you to know that the combination of those two issues is -- are paramount issues with us, equal to anything else we are doing around the world.  And we are engaged a great deal, as you know.

And this is also a very propitious moment.  I was mentioning this to the Prime Minister.  The vice president of the IMF is here.  And the IMF has made projections about growth in GDP around the world.  And the United States is projected to be one of those areas of the world that is going to grow, and grow significantly at 3.5 percent or more.

The reason I say that is the combination of that, plus low oil prices, plus the plummeting costs of renewable energy gives us a moment, a window here where we will get significant support from the American public because we are doing better to invest more overseas and overseas is just across the water into the Caribbean.  We are in a position that I think we should understand there’s a sense of urgency that we take advantage of the opportunities.  We had great discussions downstairs, and you're going to have more here before we leave.

The fact is for years it has been the same.  Economies squeezed by the high cost, making companies less competitive, crowding out other investments in the future of your countries; citizens in your countries demanding more affordable supply; expressing their discontent when they hear about investments they don't seem to see any results in; governments dependent on a single, increasingly unreliable, external supplier. Not just here, but in Europe and other parts of the world, as well.

And whether it’s the Ukraine or the Caribbean, no country should be able to use natural resources as a tool of coercion against any other country.

Energy developers come to your door with exciting ideas.  But somehow deals fall apart when it comes to finding the financing.  Many of you feel you can’t tolerate the rise in energy prices, given the little space you have to make reforms you know you need to make.  But this is an opportunity.

That's been the story, but it doesn't need to remain that way.  Ladies and gentlemen, when it comes to energy, we’re living in a new moment –- not just in the Caribbean, but worldwide. 

Sometimes it took -- I can recall when I was a younger senator and we’d talk about the Information Age.  By the time we’d caught up to the Information Age, it had already passed government.  It had already moved well beyond.

You can talk about that in every state.  The question is, how do governments keep up with fundamental changes that are taking place in the world?  So it’s up to us to seize this moment and seize it together because a great deal has changed.

Let’s start with oil prices, now under $50 a barrel.  This gives governments a little space to breathe, and it’s likely it’s going to remain relatively low for at least the near term, the next several years.  There’s an old saying:  The best time to fix a roof is when the sun is shining.  The best time to fix a roof is when the sun is shining.  The sun is shining now figuratively speaking.  The time is now.

Renewable energy is affordable.  We heard discussions downstairs just how radically the cost has been reduced for renewable energy and how it is producing competitive per-kilowatt hours. 

The cost of developing wind and solar energy has fallen by 50 percent just in the last four years.  We’re starting to see those technologies outcompete real coal, oil-fired generation in places like Brazil without any subsidies at all.

We have technologies in natural gas that are moving forward.  And we shouldn’t expect this to be a panacea for everyone, but it’s also true there are more options at your disposal now for natural gas delivery than there have ever been -— from small-scale barge trades of LNG, to floating import terminals.  And they're not just -- these aren’t just designs on paper.  They exist.  They operate.

You can now purchase gas on the open market from many countries, including your neighbor, Trinidad and Tobago right now.  There’s also LNG exporters in the United States with licenses to export to any of your countries, whether you have a free trade agreement or not.  If you want gas, go talk to them. 

Meanwhile, we’re in the midst of a seismic shift in the global economy:  the ascendancy of the Americas as the epicenter of energy production in the world.  We have more oil and gas rigs running in the United States, than all the rest of the world combined.  Mexico, Canada and the United States is the new epicenter of energy -- not the Arabian Peninsula.  It is the new epicenter of energy in the 21st century. 

An integrated North America, working to promote energy security beyond our borders can be a major asset for the entire hemisphere.  And it’s profoundly in the self-interest of the United States to see the Caribbean countries succeed as prosperous, secure, energy-independent neighbors -— not a world apart, but an integral part of the hemisphere, where every nation is middle class, democratic and secure.  It’s the first time in history that can be envisioned.  You can see it if we make the right decisions.

So taken together, these changes create a moment of energy opportunity that hasn’t existed.  Progress is possible.  And it’s possible to begin now -- not a decade from now, but now.  And that’s what we’ve discussed in our meetings today.  You can set up an electric sector that uses geothermal energy, hydropower, and other sources to give the system stability. 

You can max out your use of renewable energy resources like wind, solar, and biomass, diversifying your supply, keeping your foreign reserves in the bank where you need them.  You can leverage energy efficiency in every sector, shrinking the amount of energy you need to keep your economy humming.

Some people out there think that it can’t be done in the Caribbean.  They’re dead wrong.  They are dead wrong.  Not only can it be done, it is being done right now with some of your neighbors. 

Look at what the U.S. Virgin Islands are doing:  They’re combining renewable energy with propane to lower costs, and secure their supply, saving ratepayers 30 percent on electric bill, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gas emissions
from the fossil fleet by 12 percent.

Solar photovoltaic facilities at the -- at the Cyril E. King Airport that the Port Authority is saving nearly $1,000 a day.  That’s real money.

Aruba, which united its government, the utilities, and businesses behind a common strategy and action plan, has now brought enough renewable energy online to satisfy 30 percent of their demand, and may even reach 40 percent by the end of this year.  That’s demonstrable progress.  It’s happening now.

St. Lucia is breaking down the barriers to develop new investments in geothermal energy and is creating new legislation to create a national regulatory body for energy to stabilize the rules of the game and make investments more attractive to those of you who are energy suppliers here in the room.

Barbados has long been the leader in solar technology, and is poised to make major new investments in renewables.

Progress is practical, it is possible, and it is profitable.   Significant improvements are within reach for just about every one of your countries.  And as I said before, not a decade away.  Now.  Right now. If, and it’s a big if, you can summon within your systems the political will to seize the promise of this new moment. 

Because, as we learned, real and lasting progress toward energy security everywhere in the world depends more than just on spending money.   Because over the last 10 years, tens of millions of dollars have been pledged and invested.  But we don’t have nearly enough to show for it.

So it can’t just be about money.  It has to be about doing business the right way.  Government money and targeted international aid can and must be available -- is helpful, but the private sector is where the money is.

That’s why the primary goal of this summit isn’t to put up another solar panel, or sign another gas contract.  It’s to help you create the conditions where your countries can attract private-sector investment.  And it’s there.  They're ready.  From hedge funds to private energy companies.  This may not be easy, but it’s also not a mystery how it works.  The geography may be different.  The size and scales of each of your countries may vary.  But there are certain core ingredients that remain the recipe for success moving toward energy independence.

First and foremost, you have to deal with corruption.  You need to be choosing projects because they’re the most competitive -— not for other reasons.  You need update and modernize not just the physical infrastructure, but your institutions and regulations.  Rules need to be clear, transparent, and fair.  Many of you are already doing that and way ahead of the curve.

Enforcement needs to be predictable under the rule of law.  Courts need to adjudicate disputes fairly.  You can’t bankrupt yourself on subsidies.  Utilities need to be financially viable.  It helps if you can harmonize your regulatory frameworks -– so that businesses can look to invest in an entire region, rather than just in a single country -- trying to navigate the unique regulations of every country in the region.

We need to talk to the stakeholders, from utilities, to generators, to consumers, to articulate a common vision and create a system that works to realize that vision.

We need to have the political will to take on entrenched interests, to better serve our people.  Some of you have been told differently.  You’ve been promised easy solutions over the years.  But if there were easy solutions and fixes, there would have already been found by now. 

We’ve learned that the countries that fare the best are those willing to roll up their sleeves and put everything on the table.  They take a determined and holistic approach, with an eye to the long-term.  And they make it a paramount priority to attract private investment.  This is not either-or.  It’s all of the above -- concessional loans, international development banks, private sector.  All the above.

And I can promise you this:  If you commit -- and I believe you all are committing -- to these goals, to this process, all of us here will work to support you.   We’re prepared.  I guarantee you we will do our part.  And we can afford it.  But we’re not going to waste money.  We’re going to insist on
considerably more transparency, greater coordination, and changes in the regulations.

We’re not here to replace one flawed financing scheme with another.  The United States and the international community
can and will do -- and we’ll be involved.  We can help.  We can make it less difficult but necessary steps take a quantum leap toward energy security -- the necessary steps that I’ve referenced and others.

And there’s a lot we can do –- some of which I spoke about in June in the Dominican Republic.  In some cases, we can help provide financing.  The U.S. government is in the process of establishing a team, a beefed-up team of Overseas Private Investment Corporation, known as OPIC, devoted entirely to the Caribbean.  In the past most of our effort has been developing in other parts of the world.  But this new focus, we have taken on in a shorthanded agency, an entirely new team to ensure that we focus on the Caribbean, to ensure projects can be connected to financing.

And today, OPIC will disburse its first installment, $90 million, for 34 Mega-Watt wind project by Blue Mountain Renewables in Jamaica.  When construction begins in June, it will be a tangible example of what can be achieved when the public and private sector in both countries work together to meet this challenge and meet it head on.

The United States and the international community can also provide technical assistance to help countries attract investment in your energy sectors.   USAID announced a $10 million program to supply energy investments in Jamaica; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has announced three new grants to support clean energy in the Dominican Republic.  We’re also looking at similar projects in other parts of the region.

We can help.  We can help you build a more comprehensive model as we are working to do so -- and we're doing that as I speak, we're doing it with the government of Grenada.  This is an effort to show what is possible.  We’re willing to work with all of you.  But we have to be focused.  We can help come -- we can help convene all of us around the table to discuss and coordinate more effectively -- as I promised to do last summer, and as we are doing today, and we’ll move on beyond today.

I’ve spoken at length about what success requires from you. 
Let me speak about how, the United States and the donor countries, need to change the way we do business, as well.

We all want to invest in this new future in the Caribbean. 
Everyone is well-intentioned.  I know it’s easier in the short run to go out and cherry pick, to do a series of one-off projects.  But to be effective over the longer term, that has to change.

We donors and investors need to talk to one another.  It’s important that international financial institutions are more coordinated and more focused.  We need one central fora to make sure our various efforts are aligned and achieve maximum impact in the region.  That's our responsibility.  We have not done that thus far for you.

I promised last summer that we’d work within the international financial institutions and with others to do a better job in this coordination.  The goal of this meeting today is to walk away with an agreement to create a coordinating mechanism that will maximize energy programs in the region.  We support the World Bank’s proposal to create this and we hope you’ll join us in offering your support, as well.

These countries’ and institutions’ presence here at this meeting is encouraging -- an encouraging sign.  Now it’s important that we back up all we’ve talked about with some real, genuine action.  Because imagine what will happen if, together, we finally get this right.

You, the countries of the Caribbean, have a chance at the supply of energy that’s more resilient, more sustainable, cleaner, more affordable than you have ever, ever had.

You have a chance to reduce the number of oil spills, protect your waters, put the money you are saving into schools, hospitals, jobs, infrastructure, and manufacturing.  You have a chance to harness the natural wealth of your countries; to find and fuel your economies and save your people money; free up your government budgets and without the burden of insecure supplies of energy; to expand what is possible for the citizens of the Caribbean in the century ahead.

A lot of work lies ahead.  I’m not Pollyannaish about this.  I know there’s a lot of work.   But we have a chance.

And I’d like to conclude in the words with -- I was kidding my colleagues earlier today about Irish poets.  And my good friend from Trinidad and Tobago said, you know we have a Nobel laureate.  I’m going to send you his poems.  But there’s an Irish poet Seamus Heaney.  He wrote a poem called “The Cure at Troy.”  And there’s a paragraph -- there’s a stanza in that poem that applies to where I think we all find ourselves today.  He said:

History teaches us don’t hope
on this side of the grave,
but then once in a lifetime,
the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.

We’ve got a chance.  We got a chance to make hope and history rhyme here in terms of your economies.  And the single-biggest burden that could be lifted from you right now, economically, is the cost of energy and the dependence that you still have on single suppliers.  That's what we can do.  It can change everything.

And I know all of you I met with today are competent, committed leaders in your country.  You all have the interests of your people at heart.  We share your desire.  We're going to try our best to be the best partner we can possibly be in order to have you reach the objective that is within your reach, energy independence in the Caribbean.

So I thank you all for making the trip here.  I’ll close where I began our early morning meeting.  This meeting was planned for Miami.  But it’s all the fault of Colombia that we're not there.  (Laughter.)  And I want to explain why. The Miss Universe Pageant took place -- (laughter) -- seriously, and all the rooms were taken up.  That's because I guess the Colombians knew they were going to beat the American and end up with the runner-up being an American and Miss Universe being Miss Colombia.  So I understand that.  I understand that.  (Laughter.)  But that's the reason you're in the snow.  That's the reason you're in the snow.  (Laughter.)

Thanks for making the effort to be here.  Love you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

END
2:55 P.M. EST

Remarks by President Obama at India State Dinner

Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi, India

9:37 P.M. IST

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Good evening.  President Mukherjee, Prime Minister Modi, distinguished guests -- on behalf of Michelle and myself, I want to extend our deepest thanks for the extraordinary hospitality that you’ve shown us here today.  We feel your friendship -- your dosti.  And I am deeply honored to be the first American President to join you in celebrating India’s Republic Day. 

I also want to thank you for not making me dance -- again.  (Laughter.)  The last time we were here, we joined some children in Mumbai for Diwali.  And we danced.  It was pretty clear what the Indian press thought.  One headline said, “President Obama Visits India.”  The other said, “Michelle Obama Rocks India.”  (Laughter.)  It is true, Michelle is a better dancer than me.

Let me also thank my partner and friend, Prime Minister Modi.  I’ve often said that my life story could only happen in America.  But of course, Mr. Prime Minister, your story could only happen in India.  Here this evening, we think back to all those years ago -- to your father selling tea in the train station, and your mother working at other families’ homes to support her own.  And tonight, their son welcomes us as the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy.

Now, we all know about the Prime Minister’s legendary work ethic.  He was explaining to me today how he only needed three hours’ sleep, which made me feel bad; I thought I was doing okay with five.  (Laughter.)  What I didn’t know until now is that he once survived an attack by a crocodile.  So he’s tough.  And he also has style.  One of our newspapers back home wrote, “Move aside, Michelle Obama.  The world has a new fashion icon.”  (Laughter.)  Tonight, I was thinking about wearing a Modi Kurta myself.  And while I do not want to use a dinner like this to make United States policy, let me just say that given the Prime Minister’s advocacy at the United Nations, Michelle and I are looking forward to the first International Yoga Day.  

Our visit reflects the deepest connections and long friendship between our peoples.  One of America’s greatest poets was Walt Whitman, and more than a century ago he wrote a poem -- “Passage to India” -- in which he celebrated the technological ingenuity and human spirit that joins our nations.  He wrote: “Seest though not God’s purpose from the first?  The earth to be spann’d, connected by network, the people to become brothers and sisters.”  Here, in our time, these words have come to pass. 

India and America have spanned the Earth, connected and networked by technology and by family, including millions of Indian Americans, among them our nation’s first Indian American ambassador to India, Rich Verma.  And in the shared work of our world, our purpose -- lifting up our fellow citizens, advancing human dignity -- we, as the poet predicted, have become brothers and sisters.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate Republic Day.  We will honor the generations of Indians who built this nation through toil and tears and iron will.  And at the end of the day, I’m told the band will play that hymn that was dear to the heart of Mahatma Gandhi:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me. 

And so I propose a toast, if I can get a glass -- oh, here we go.  To the great partnership between our nations and the friendship -- the dosti -- between our peoples.  Here in the eventide, Indians and Americans, let us know, in the darkness or day, in good times or bad, whenever one of us looks to the other, we will surely say, abide with me.

Cheers!

(A toast is offered.)  (Applause.)

END
9:42 P.M. IST