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| Syria ceasefire not dead, says Kerry, as Obama addresses general assembly – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.18pm BST | |
| 16:18 | |
| Obama says the US has been a “force for good”, a rare superpower in human history that has been able to think beyond narrow self interests. | |
| He refers to more threats, nuclear proliferation, the Zika virus. | |
| Obama says it is worth giving up some freedom of action to bind countries to international rules. | |
| He says a peaceful resolution to the disputes in the South China Sea is far greater than “arguing over rocks and reefs”.Russia’s nationalism and interference in the affairs of its neighbours will “diminish its stature and make its borders less secure”. | |
| We have to open our hearts and do more to help refugees who are desperate for a home ...We have to do more, even when the politics are hard. | |
| Obama says there is “a much darker and more cynical version of history we can adopt”. | |
| Each of us has leaders, as nations, can choose to reject those who appeal to our worst impulses and choose those who appeal to our best impulses. We have shown that we can choose a better history. | |
| He says his own family is made up of cultures, flesh and faith from different parts of the world just as America is built from immigration from different shores. | |
| I believe I can best serve my own people, I can best look after my daughters, by actively seeking what is best for all people ...All of us can be co-workers with God. | |
| And that is the end of Obama’s last address to the UN general assembly as president. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.20pm BST | |
| 4.04pm BST | |
| 16:04 | |
| Obama says: | |
| We must reject any forms of fundamentalism, or racism or a belief in ethnic superiority that makes our differences irreconcilable with modernity. | |
| He talks about protests against cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, then he takes direct aim at Vladimir Putin. | |
| We see Russia trying to capture lost glory through force | |
| The world is too small for us to be able to resort to “old ways of thinking”, says Obama. We have seen this in the Middle East where leaders persecuted political opposition or minorities/sects. He says they have helped fuel the growth of Isis. | |
| Our international community must seek to work with those who seek to build, rather than destroy. | |
| On Syria, Obama says we must provide aid to those in need and engage in “hard diplomacy”. There is no ultimate military victory to be won. | |
| A look at the #Syria delegation in #UNGA audience as @POTUS speaks about the tragic five-year civil war in that country. pic.twitter.com/eBisO5aurR | |
| He calls for progress on Israel-Palestine, saying Palestinians must reject incitement and Israel must realise it cannot criminally occupy Palestinian land. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.04pm BST | |
| 3.56pm BST | |
| 15:56 | |
| For the small fraction of what we spent on war in Iraq we could invest money in fragile states to ensure they don’t collapse in the first places, says Obama. That’s why we must act on climate change and help the poorest countries “leap-frog” damaging sources of energy. | |
| We need new models of the global marketplace, models that are inclusive and sustainable. | |
| There is a growing conflict between libertarianism and authoritarianism, says Obama. He stresses he is not saying that the US model is the only right model but says that he will always come down on the side of libertarianism against authoritarianism. | |
| I believe the road of true democracy remains the better path. | |
| In Europe the progress of the eastern-bloc countries who embraced democracy have progressed much faster than those who didn’t, says Obama. | |
| He rejects the idea that what happened in Ukraine was the result of a foreign plot but says it happened because of what Ukrainian citizens saw happening around them. | |
| Those of us who believe in democracy need to speak out forcefully because the facts and history are on our side. | |
| 3.46pm BST | 3.46pm BST |
| 15:46 | 15:46 |
| The answer is not a rejection of global integration but working together so that the benefits of integration are broadly shared, says Obama. The cultural impacts of integration must be squarely addressed. | The answer is not a rejection of global integration but working together so that the benefits of integration are broadly shared, says Obama. The cultural impacts of integration must be squarely addressed. |
| It starts by making the global economy work better and not just for those at the top. | It starts by making the global economy work better and not just for those at the top. |
| Often those who have benefited the most from globalisation have often used their powers to undermine workers, says Obama. He refers to $8tn stashed away in tax havens. | Often those who have benefited the most from globalisation have often used their powers to undermine workers, says Obama. He refers to $8tn stashed away in tax havens. |
| A world in which 1% own as much as wealth as the other 99% will never be stable. | A world in which 1% own as much as wealth as the other 99% will never be stable. |
| The US president says trade wars, market subsidies, an over-reliance on natural resources rather than innovation will make us poor. | The US president says trade wars, market subsidies, an over-reliance on natural resources rather than innovation will make us poor. |
| We do not have to submit to “a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few”. The rights of workers must be respected, people should be invested in and there should be a strengthening of the safety net. Obama says he has pursued these policies in the US with “clear results”. | We do not have to submit to “a soulless capitalism that benefits only the few”. The rights of workers must be respected, people should be invested in and there should be a strengthening of the safety net. Obama says he has pursued these policies in the US with “clear results”. |
| Last year, poverty in this country fell at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. | Last year, poverty in this country fell at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. |
| It is not about punishing wealth but curbing the excesses of capitalism, says Obama. | It is not about punishing wealth but curbing the excesses of capitalism, says Obama. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.20pm BST | |
| 3.39pm BST | 3.39pm BST |
| 15:39 | 15:39 |
| By many measures the world is safer and more prosperous than ever before says Obama, and yet there is much strife. | By many measures the world is safer and more prosperous than ever before says Obama, and yet there is much strife. |
| We must recognise that the same forces of globalisation that have pulled us together have also exposed deep fault lines. | We must recognise that the same forces of globalisation that have pulled us together have also exposed deep fault lines. |
| We must go forward and not backward. | We must go forward and not backward. |
| As imperfect as they are the principles of open markets, human rights, democracy are vital. The integration of our global economy as made things better for billions of people. | As imperfect as they are the principles of open markets, human rights, democracy are vital. The integration of our global economy as made things better for billions of people. |
| It means children have enough to eat, mothers don’t die in childbirth. | It means children have enough to eat, mothers don’t die in childbirth. |
| A person born today is more like to be healthy, live longer and have access to opportunity than at any time in history, says Obama | A person born today is more like to be healthy, live longer and have access to opportunity than at any time in history, says Obama |
| Despite the areas where “freedom remains in retreat” the number of democracies has increased. Social media has given people more ways to express themselves and hold leaders to account, the US president continues. | Despite the areas where “freedom remains in retreat” the number of democracies has increased. Social media has given people more ways to express themselves and hold leaders to account, the US president continues. |
| He condemns nationalism, also crude populism - sometimes from the far left but mostly from the right - and tribalism. | He condemns nationalism, also crude populism - sometimes from the far left but mostly from the right - and tribalism. |
| 3.33pm BST | 3.33pm BST |
| 15:33 | 15:33 |
| Here is Barack Obama, to applause. | Here is Barack Obama, to applause. |
| He begins by recounting progress over the past eight years: | He begins by recounting progress over the past eight years: |
| He also refers to progress in Colombia and Myanmar. | He also refers to progress in Colombia and Myanmar. |
| Obama highlights the framework to protect the world from climate change. | Obama highlights the framework to protect the world from climate change. |
| This is important work that has made a real difference to the lives of our people. It could not have happened without us working together. | This is important work that has made a real difference to the lives of our people. It could not have happened without us working together. |
| And yet, he goes on, there is the global refugee crisis, a break down of “basic order” in the middle east, too many governments muzzling critics. | And yet, he goes on, there is the global refugee crisis, a break down of “basic order” in the middle east, too many governments muzzling critics. |
| This is the paradox that defines our world today. | This is the paradox that defines our world today. |
| 3.28pm BST | 3.28pm BST |
| 15:28 | 15:28 |
| Another important segment from Ban Ki-Moon’s final address to the UN general assembly was the regret he expressed over sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic and an outbreak of cholera in Haiti. | Another important segment from Ban Ki-Moon’s final address to the UN general assembly was the regret he expressed over sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic and an outbreak of cholera in Haiti. |
| He said that these two matters had “tarnished the reputation of the United Nations and, far worse, traumatised many people we serve.” | He said that these two matters had “tarnished the reputation of the United Nations and, far worse, traumatised many people we serve.” |
| The United Nations has promised to crack down on abuses after dozens of accusations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers in Central African Republic, where UN troops assumed authority from African Union troops in September 2014. Ban said: | The United Nations has promised to crack down on abuses after dozens of accusations of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers in Central African Republic, where UN troops assumed authority from African Union troops in September 2014. Ban said: |
| The despicable acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by a number of U.N. peacekeepers and other personnel have compounded the suffering of people already caught up in armed conflict, and undermined the work done by so many others around the world. Protectors must never become predators. | The despicable acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by a number of U.N. peacekeepers and other personnel have compounded the suffering of people already caught up in armed conflict, and undermined the work done by so many others around the world. Protectors must never become predators. |
| In Haiti, Ban is working on a new response to an outbreak of cholera. The country was free of cholera until 2010, when UN peacekeepers dumped infected sewage into a river. | In Haiti, Ban is working on a new response to an outbreak of cholera. The country was free of cholera until 2010, when UN peacekeepers dumped infected sewage into a river. |
| Ban said: | Ban said: |
| I feel tremendous regret and sorrow at the profound suffering of Haitians affected by cholera. Let us work together to meet our obligations to the Haitian people. | I feel tremendous regret and sorrow at the profound suffering of Haitians affected by cholera. Let us work together to meet our obligations to the Haitian people. |
| He called it the “moral responsibility” of the UN to do so. A 2011 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is endemic, were the likely cause of the outbreak. | He called it the “moral responsibility” of the UN to do so. A 2011 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is endemic, were the likely cause of the outbreak. |
| Since then, more than 9,000 people have died of the disease that causes uncontrollable diarrhea and 800,000 people have fallen ill, mostly in the first two years of the outbreak. | Since then, more than 9,000 people have died of the disease that causes uncontrollable diarrhea and 800,000 people have fallen ill, mostly in the first two years of the outbreak. |
| 3.19pm BST | 3.19pm BST |
| 15:19 | 15:19 |
| And here he is: | And here he is: |
| Better late than...#UNGA pic.twitter.com/3TFGktvt3S | Better late than...#UNGA pic.twitter.com/3TFGktvt3S |
| 3.14pm BST | 3.14pm BST |
| 15:14 | 15:14 |
| Here is the fashionably late president: | Here is the fashionably late president: |
| POTUS arriving now at #UNGA pic.twitter.com/KM5QgZhrOY | POTUS arriving now at #UNGA pic.twitter.com/KM5QgZhrOY |
| 3.13pm BST | 3.13pm BST |
| 15:13 | 15:13 |
| The United Nations and Arab League envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has echoed John Kerry in saying the ceasefire is not dead but warned that it is “in danger”. | The United Nations and Arab League envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has echoed John Kerry in saying the ceasefire is not dead but warned that it is “in danger”. |
| UN envoy de Mistura on #Syriaceasefire 1/ The ceasefire is not dead. That I can tell you. It was confirmed by everyone around the table.... | UN envoy de Mistura on #Syriaceasefire 1/ The ceasefire is not dead. That I can tell you. It was confirmed by everyone around the table.... |
| De Mistura: 2 The ceasefire is in danger. The ceasefire has been seriously affected but the only ones who can announce the ceasefire is dead | De Mistura: 2 The ceasefire is in danger. The ceasefire has been seriously affected but the only ones who can announce the ceasefire is dead |
| De Mistura 3/ are the two co-chairs and they have today not done so. They want to give it another chance. | De Mistura 3/ are the two co-chairs and they have today not done so. They want to give it another chance. |
| And here are Julian’s thoughts: | And here are Julian’s thoughts: |
| #Syriaceasefire now continues a zombie existence in the hotel lobbies of New York, having died violently in Syria. | #Syriaceasefire now continues a zombie existence in the hotel lobbies of New York, having died violently in Syria. |