Reactions to President Obama's Cairo Speech

(Version anglaise seulement)

A roundup of reaction from officials and citizens across the Middle East and elsewhere to President Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo Thursday.

Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Bilal, Somali Insurgent Movement Al Shabaab:

"Obama's speech is useless unless he stops his political interference with Somalia and the Muslim world."

"If he means what he says, let him withdraw his troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop supporting AMISOM (AU peacekeeping force in Somalia) and the Somalia government."

Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:

"His call for stopping settlement and for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and his reference to the suffering of Palestinians ... is a clear message to Israel that a just peace is built on the foundations of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
"President Obama's speech is a good start and an important step towards a new American policy."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum :

"It is a speech that plays on sentiment and is filled with civilities, which leads us to believe that he aimed to embellish America's image in the world."

Danny Seaman, director of Israel's Government Press Office:

"All in all, it's not bad. I don't think there's anything we disagree with here.

"The state of Israel isn't against reconciliation," he added, but warned against any moves that could "be used by the extremists to endanger Israel and endanger the peace process."

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

"The nations of this part of the world ... deeply hate America because during many years they have seen violence, military interference, rights violations, discrimination ... from America.

"Even if they give sweet and beautiful talks to the Muslim nation ... that will not create a change."

Ali Al-Dabbagh, Iraqi government spokesman:

"The speech was historic and important and reflects a positive direction for the new administration (in Washington) and it is a new start.

"The use of Koranic sayings plays a big part in a positive change of picture, but there is a necessity for action.

"The government of Iraq is comfortable with the clarity of the president in respecting commitments to Iraq and the timetable for withdrawal stipulated in the security pact."

Hazim Al-Nuaimi, analyst at Baghdad University:

"He gave nothing new to Iraqis. He gave one promise, to respect the rights of minorities and work with consensus. In all he says, he tries to remove himself from all that happened in Iraq."

Nisar Shmed Faizee, Pakistani citizen, Islamabad:
"Good speech. It has created a lot of hope ...but saying is one thing, doing is another. Now he has to deliver."

Ira Forman, chief executive of The National Jewish Democratic Council:

"The President made very clear to the Arab world that he was going to continue to prioritize Israel's peace and security, and that the U.S. and Israel have an 'unbreakable' bond," said council.

Pakistani Political Analyst Siraj Wahab:

"Whatever wounds America has inflicted on the world, they are very deep and they cannot be erased away by only one speech. Overall the speech was positive, but let's see whether it was merely good words or could we ever see these words be practiced."

Egyptian student Ingy Hassieb:

"The Islamic world does not need moral or political sermons. It needs a fundamental change in American policy beginning from a halt to complete support for Israeli aggression on the region, especially on Lebanese and Palestinians, to an American withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan and a stop to its interference in the affairs of Islamic countries. We have not seen any change in U.S. policy towards the Palestinian cause."

Source:Ecoterra, June 5, 2009

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