Friday
Mar202009
Video: The Obama New Year's Message to Iran
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 8:30
Latest Post: Iran Responds to Obama New Year Message
Latest Post: Three Degrees Of Engagement: The Obama Message To Iran
Overnight President Obama spoke by video to "the leaders of Iran" (the transcript is below). Apparently there is reaction in the Iranian press. We'll watch developments and have a full analysis. The issue, however, is not that a message was sent --- President Bush did the same in December 2002 when the US launched Radio Farda to broadcast into Iran --- but the substance of "engagement" in Obama's words:
TRANSCRIPT
THE PRESIDENT: Today I want to extend my very best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz around the world.
This holiday is both an ancient ritual and a moment of renewal, and I hope that you enjoy this special time of year with friends and family.
In particular, I would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your music, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more beautiful place.
Here in the United States our own communities have been enhanced by the contributions of Iranian Americans. We know that you are a great civilization, and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the United States and the world.
For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays -- by gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.
Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are common dreams.
So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.
So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.
I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
With the coming of a new season, we're reminded of this precious humanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.
Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.
Latest Post: Three Degrees Of Engagement: The Obama Message To Iran
Overnight President Obama spoke by video to "the leaders of Iran" (the transcript is below). Apparently there is reaction in the Iranian press. We'll watch developments and have a full analysis. The issue, however, is not that a message was sent --- President Bush did the same in December 2002 when the US launched Radio Farda to broadcast into Iran --- but the substance of "engagement" in Obama's words:
So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.
TRANSCRIPT
THE PRESIDENT: Today I want to extend my very best wishes to all who are celebrating Nowruz around the world.
This holiday is both an ancient ritual and a moment of renewal, and I hope that you enjoy this special time of year with friends and family.
In particular, I would like to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nowruz is just one part of your great and celebrated culture. Over many centuries your art, your music, literature and innovation have made the world a better and more beautiful place.
Here in the United States our own communities have been enhanced by the contributions of Iranian Americans. We know that you are a great civilization, and your accomplishments have earned the respect of the United States and the world.
For nearly three decades relations between our nations have been strained. But at this holiday we are reminded of the common humanity that binds us together. Indeed, you will be celebrating your New Year in much the same way that we Americans mark our holidays -- by gathering with friends and family, exchanging gifts and stories, and looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope.
Within these celebrations lies the promise of a new day, the promise of opportunity for our children, security for our families, progress for our communities, and peace between nations. Those are shared hopes, those are common dreams.
So in this season of new beginnings I would like to speak clearly to Iran's leaders. We have serious differences that have grown over time. My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community. This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect.
You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right -- but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization. And the measure of that greatness is not the capacity to destroy, it is your demonstrated ability to build and create.
So on the occasion of your New Year, I want you, the people and leaders of Iran, to understand the future that we seek. It's a future with renewed exchanges among our people, and greater opportunities for partnership and commerce. It's a future where the old divisions are overcome, where you and all of your neighbors and the wider world can live in greater security and greater peace.
I know that this won't be reached easily. There are those who insist that we be defined by our differences. But let us remember the words that were written by the poet Saadi, so many years ago: "The children of Adam are limbs to each other, having been created of one essence."
With the coming of a new season, we're reminded of this precious humanity that we all share. And we can once again call upon this spirit as we seek the promise of a new beginning.
Thank you, and Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak.
tagged Barack Obama, Engagement, Iran, Nowruz in Middle East & Iran
Barack Obama, Engagement, Iran, Nowruz in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (2)
Jihad Watch responds (http://www.jihadwatch.org):
"God help you all" indeed. Obama's message to Iran, delivered on the occasion of Persian New Year, looks like more appeasement. His fellow appeasers (Solana) are enthusiastic about it, and the objects of the appeasement (the mullahs) are reacting with a predictable uptick of aggression and bellicosity.
Yes, we both celebrate New Year's in much the same way, so we must not be all that bad, eh?
Here, as always, the President assumes that Iran wants to take its "rightful place in the community of nations," but the poor dears just can't quite figure out how to go about it. The possibility that perhaps they would prefer to hasten the coming of the Mahdi and destroy the Zionist entity, even if doing so brings them criticism from the UN, doesn't seem to have entered his calculations. Of course, if this had occurred to him, he probably wouldn't have sent any message to Iran at all, and this one will bring him more love from the Western intelligentsia, even though it won't do a thing to smooth over matters with Iran itself.
Shared hopes and common dreams? What indication does Obama actually have that Iran is at all interested in peace and security and cooperation between nations? Can he or anyone else point to even one single concrete confirmation of this?
Iran has yet to show any respect in return for all the respect Obama is showing to the mullahs. He doesn't seem to have noticed.
Dear Mr> President Obama:
Many thanks for your congratulation for New year in Iran,I appreciate your kindness ,your speech was very deep and very important for us ,we hope one day very very soon our relationship begin andall problems being solved .
Many Iranian people love you and the US people but our leaders want to show that our people do not want to solve the probles between us,but it is the geatest lie,our dictator leaders always lying to us and all the world.
dear Mr.President Obama you are not only the president of USA but also our president too, we love you ,you are our great hope.
Best wishes
Behrouz Kiani