By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2014 – President Barack Obama appealed
to logic and emotion to explain the American position on events in Ukraine and
again laid out the case for Russia to disengage and rescind its annexation of
Crimea.
The president spoke yesterday at the Palais des Beaux-Arts
in Brussels after meetings with NATO and European Union officials.
Obama said Europe learned from a century of war and
suffering brought about by the clash of opposing ideologies. “In the aftermath
of World War II, America joined with Europe to reject the darker forces of the
past and build a new architecture of peace,” he said.
The Marshall Plan to rebuild the continent and the
establishment of NATO to defend it were two sides of the same coin, the
president said. “Across the Atlantic, we embraced a shared vision of Europe, a
vision based on representative democracy, individual rights and a belief that
nations can meet the interests of their citizens through trade and open
markets, a social safety net, respect for those of different faiths and
backgrounds,” Obama said.
Progress has been made not just in Europe, but around the
world. Now Russia challenges that progress. “Russia's leadership is challenging
truths that only a few weeks ago seemed self-evident, that in the 21st century,
the borders of Europe cannot be redrawn with force, that international law
matters, that people and nations can make their own decisions about their
futures,” Obama said.
The United States and Europe could chose to ignore Russia’s
actions, “but that kind of casual indifference would ignore the lessons that
are written in the cemeteries of this continent,” Obama said. “It would allow
the old way of doing things to regain a foothold in this young century.”
Russia has violated international law by its assault on
Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Obama said. That move “must be
met with condemnation,” the president said, “not because we're trying to keep
Russia down, but because the principles that have meant so much to Europe and
the world must be lifted up.”
The United States, European nations and other partners have
united in defense of these ideals and in support of the Ukrainian people, the
president said.
“Together, we've condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and
rejected the legitimacy of the Crimean referendum,” he said. “Together, we have
isolated Russia politically, suspending it from the G-8 nations and downgrading
our bilateral ties. Together, we are imposing costs through sanctions that have
left a mark on Russia and those accountable for its actions.
“And if the Russian leadership stays on its current course,
together, we will ensure that this isolation deepens,” he continued. “Sanctions
will expand, and the toll on Russia’s economy, as well as its standing in the
world, will only increase.”
Obama vowed to support the people of Ukraine as they work to
chart a democratic course. He pledged support as Ukrainians try to replace a
kleptocracy with a representative government.
“Make no mistake, neither the United States nor Europe has
any interest in controlling Ukraine,” Obama said. “We have sent no troops
there. What we want is for the Ukrainian people to make their own decisions,
just like other free people around the world.”
Obama stressed this is not a continuation of the Cold War.
“The United States and NATO do not seek any conflict with Russia,” he said. “In
fact, for more than 60 years we have come together in NATO not to claim other
lands, but to keep nations free.”
The NATO allies will uphold their responsibilities under the
Washington Treaty that established the alliance to work together in a common
defense. An attack on one is treated as an attack on all. “NATO nations never
stand alone,” the president said. “Today NATO planes patrol the skies over the
Baltics, and we’ve reinforced our presence in Poland, and we're prepared to do
more.”
The president called on the NATO allies to show political
will by investing in collective defense and by developing the capabilities to
serve as a source of international peace and security.
But Ukraine is not a NATO ally, and Russia will not be
dislodged from Crimea or deterred from further escalation by military force, he
said.
“But with time -- so long as we remain united -- the Russian
people will recognize that they cannot achieve the security, prosperity and the
status that they seek through brute force,” Obama said. “And that’s why
throughout this crisis we will combine our substantial pressure on Russia with
an open door for diplomacy.”
It is possible to forge peace between Ukraine and Russia
through de-escalation, Obama said. He proposed a direct dialogue between
Russian and Ukrainian leaders facilitated by the international community. He
called for monitors to protect the rights of all Ukrainians, a process of
constitutional reform within Ukraine and free and fair elections this spring.
“So far, Russia has resisted diplomatic overtures, annexing
Crimea and massing large forces along Ukraine's border,” Obama said. “Russia
has justified these actions as an effort to prevent problems on its own borders
and to protect ethnic Russians inside Ukraine. Of course, there is no evidence,
never has been, of systemic violence against ethnic Russians inside of
Ukraine.”
The world has an interest in a strong and responsible
Russia, the president said. “We want the Russian people to live in security,
prosperity and dignity like everyone else, proud of their own history,” he
said. “But that does not mean that Russia can run roughshod over its neighbors.
Just because Russia has a deep history with Ukraine does not mean it should be
able to dictate Ukraine’s future. No amount of propaganda can make right
something that the world knows is wrong.”
Now is the time for the world’s democracies to unite against
Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Obama said, and to meet this challenge to their
ideals and to international order.
“I believe that if we hold firm to our principles and are
willing to back our beliefs with courage and resolve, then hope will ultimately
overcome fear, and freedom will continue to triumph over tyranny, because that
is what forever stirs in the human heart,” the president said.
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