UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (APP): President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared his administration's strong economic support for Pakistan, a front line ally in the fight against terrorism, as he rolled out the United States' policies on major world issues in his first address at the annual UN General Assembly session. He was speaking a day ahead of an important Friends of Democratic Pakistan summit, which Obama will co-chair with Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The U.S, president reaffirmed Washington's resolve to rout al-Qaeda but also said Washington will work to pursue positive engagement in pursuit of peace. He described hope as the most powerful weapon in forging world peace.
"We will stand by our friends on the front lines, as we and many nations will do in pledging support for the Pakistani people tomorrow," Obama said.
"We have set a clear and focused goal: to work with all members of this body to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies' a network that has killed thousands of people of many faiths and nations, and that plotted to blow up this very building.
"In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we, and many nations here, are helping those governments develop the capacity to take the lead in this effort, while working to advance opportunity and security for their people," he added.
Obama listed out some of the pressing problems retarding world progress.
"The United Nations was born of the belief that the people of the world can live their lives, raise their families, and resolve their differences peacefully. And yet we know that in too many parts of the world, this ideal remains an abstraction. We can either accept that outcome as inevitable, and tolerate constant and crippling conflict. Or we can recognize that the yearning for peace is universal, and reassert our resolve to end conflicts around the world."
That effort, he continued, must begin with an unshakable determination that the murder of innocent men, women and children will never be tolerated.
"On this, there can be no dispute. The violent extremists who promote conflict by distorting faith have discredited and isolated themselves. They offer nothing but hatred and destruction.
"In confronting them, America will forge lasting partnerships to target terrorists, share intelligence, coordinate law enforcement, and protect our people. We will permit no safe-haven for al Qaeda to launch attacks from Afghanistan or any other nation."
"And we will pursue positive engagement that builds bridges among faiths, and new partnerships for opportunity.
"But our efforts to promote peace cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists. For the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings, the belief that the future belongs to those who build, not destroy; the confidence that conflicts can end, and a new day begin."
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