Obama hopeful on Mid-East peace (BBC interview)

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

US President Barack Obama has told the BBC he believes his country can help to get serious Middle East peace negotiations back on track. His comments, in his first interview with a UK broadcaster, come on the eve of a trip to the Middle East and Europe.

On Iran, he said he hoped to see progress by the end of the year, through "tough, direct diplomacy".
But he said rather than imposing its values on other countries the US should act as a role model.

Speaking to BBC North America Editor Justin Webb, Mr Obama said he believed the US was "going to be able to get serious negotiations back on track" between Israel and the Palestinians. "Not only is it in the interest of the Palestinian people to have a state, it's in the interest of the Israeli people to stabilise the situation there," he said. "And it's in the interest of the United States that we've got two states living side by side in peace and security."

Asked about Israel's rejection of his call for a halt to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the president urged patience, saying it was early in the conversation. "Diplomacy is always a matter of a long hard slog. It's never a matter of quick results," he said.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8078217.stm

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Follow the link for the video of the interview.

[cosmicone]

1. The quickest road to peace is to cut off Israel's military and diplomatic

support. That will stop their bullying and let them smell the coffee really quick to make hard sacrifices in order to achieve peace. Until then, it will be a continued land grab and rape of palestinians.

[Kdillard]

2. Thanks. It will be a tough road but I hope he is correct and there will

be results in the end. We already know how the people in Congress will cave in regarding Israel so I hope Obama is ready for the lack of support.

[Clio the Leo]

3. Role model? Wow, been a long time since I heard a President use THAT phrase! NT

[terrific]

4. Reality

They have been fighting forever over there. I don't think Obama's gonna stop it. He may temporarily halt the violence, but things are still gonna get much worse in the Mid-East.

[Turborama]

5. Just because they've been 'fighting forever' doesn't mean it has to continue for eternity n/t

[Cha]

6. "Direct Diplomacy"..

I like that and wish them all the best of luck.

[Turborama]

7. Full transcript of the interview

For anyone who might not be able to use the BBC's "iPlayer", or just prefer to read it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2009/06/090602_obama_transcript.shtml