Obama Demands UN Take Action on Syria

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday demanded that the world take action on Syria, saying that the regime must face consequences after the use of chemical weapons.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

World, US

Topics

International Relations, United States, Middle East & North Africa, US Politics, International Law

People

Barack Obama, Bashar al-Assad

Places

Syria, United States of America

Transcript

SHOTLIST: UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, SEPT 24, 2013, SOURCE: UNTV - NO RESALE FOR NON-EDITORIAL PURPOSES SOUNDBITE 1 Barack Obama (man), US President (English, 10 sec): "With respect to Syria, we believe that as a starting point, the international community must enforce the ban on chemical weapons." SOUNDBITE 2 Barack Obama (man), US President (English, 26): "Now, there must be a strong Security Council Resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so. If we cannot agree even on this, then it will show that the United Nations is incapable of enforcing the most basic of international laws." SOUNDBITE 3 Barack Obama (man), US President (English, 11 sec): "The United States of America is prepared to use all elements of our power, including military force, to secure our core interests in the region." -WS Obama enters, is introduced -Cutaways of Russian and Irania delegations during Obama's speech UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, Sept 24, 2013 SOURCE: AFPTV -VAR exterior shots of UN building and media crews /// ------------------------------------------------ AFP TEXT: Obama demands UN act on Syria / UNITED NATIONS (United States) - 24 September 2013 10:49 - AFP US President Barack Obama on Tuesday demanded that the world take action on Syria, saying that the regime must face consequences after the use of chemical weapons. Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Obama defended his threat of force against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and denounced critics who accuse the United States of inconsistency. "There must be a strong Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so," Obama told world leaders. Obama lashed out at doubters who questioned whether Assad carried out the August 21 chemical attack near Damascus, which US intelligence says killed some 1,400 people. "These rockets were fired from a regime-controlled neighborhood, and landed in opposition neighborhoods," Obama said. "It is an insult to human reason ���- and to the legitimacy of this institution ���- to suggest that anyone other than the regime carried out this attack," he said. "I do not believe that military action ���- by those within Syria, or by external powers ��� can achieve a lasting peace. Nor do I believe that America or any nation should determine who will lead Syria," Obama said. "Nevertheless, a leader who slaughtered his citizens and gassed children to death cannot regain the legitimacy to lead a badly fractured country," he said of Assad. Obama's remarks come as the United States and Russia wrangle over a UN Security Council resolution that would accompany an agreement by Syria to give up chemical weapons. The US-Russia deal at least temporarily halted a push by Obama and supported by France for a military strike on Syria.