UNITED NATIONS: President Barack Obama called on the world Wednesday to join the US-led coalition to defeat extremists in Iraq and Syria.
"The United States of America will work with a broad coalition to dismantle this network of death," Obama told the UN General Assembly. "Today I ask the world to join in this effort."
US President also denounced the Russian aggression in Europe on Wednesday, but said Washington would lift sanctions if Moscow changes course.
"Russian aggression in Europe recalls the days when large nations trampled small ones in pursuit of territorial ambition," Obama said, adding that a recent ceasefire agreement in Ukraine offers an opening towards diplomacy and peace.
"If Russia takes that path - a path that for stretches of the post-Cold War period resulted in prosperity for the Russian people - then we will lift our sanctions and welcome Russia's role in addressing common challenges."
He also urged Iran to seize the "historic opportunity" of reaching a deal with world powers on its contested nuclear program.
"My message to Iran's leaders and people is simple: do not let this opportunity pass," said Obama.
During his speech at the UN, Obama acknowledged that the United States had its own racial and ethnic tensions.
"Yes, we have our own racial and ethnic tensions. And like every country, we continually wrestle with how to reconcile the vast changes wrought by globalization and greater diversity with the traditions that we hold dear," he said.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@ unbelievable: I agree with you 100%. More than 70% of Mr. Obama's speech was addressed to the Muslim people as a whole and Youth in particular and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. I hope the Muslim people would hear Mr. Obama's speech in full and reflect the open truth that he preached in front most visible audience in the world; the UN General Assembly. If you are not a cynic and a conspiracy theorist, then Muslims around the world can learn a lot just from this one speech. Sounds exaggerated but it is not.
Still waiting for the day when a leader of a Muslim nation stands before the General Assembly and makes a similar speech - the Muslim World should be leading the charge against IS and other Muslim terrorist organizations. Time to step up to the plate.