President Obama:
Good afternoon, everybody.
Secretary Clinton and I just
concluded a meeting that focused
on the ongoing
situation in Libya.
Over the last few days, my
national security team has
been working around the clock to
monitor the situation there and
to coordinate with our
international partners
about a way forward.
First, we are doing
everything we can to
protect American citizens.
That is my highest priority.
In Libya, we've urged our people
to leave the country and the
State Department is assisting
those in need of support.
Meanwhile, I think all Americans
should give thanks to the heroic
work that's being done by our
foreign service officers and
the men and women serving in
our embassies and consulates
around the world.
They represent the very best
of our country and its values.
Now, throughout this period of
unrest and upheaval across the
region the United States
has maintained a set of
core principles which
guide our approach.
These principles apply to
the situation in Libya.
As I said last week, we
strongly condemn the use
of violence in Libya.
The American people extend our
deepest condolences to the
families and loved ones of all
who've been killed and injured.
The suffering and
bloodshed is outrageous
and it is unacceptable.
So are threats and orders to
shoot peaceful protesters and
further punish the
people of Libya.
These actions violate
international norms and
every standard of
common decency.
This violence must stop.
The United States also strongly
supports the universal rights of
the Libyan people.
That includes the rights of
peaceful assembly, free speech,
and the ability of the
Libyan people to determine
their own destiny.
These are human rights.
They are not negotiable.
They must be respected
in every country.
And they cannot be denied
through violence or suppression.
In a volatile situation
like this one,
it is imperative that the
nations and peoples of the
world speak with one voice,
and that has been our focus.
Yesterday a unanimous U.N.
Security Council sent a clear
message that it condemns the violence in Libya, supports
accountability for the
perpetrators, and stands
with the Libyan people.
This same message, by the way,
has been delivered by the
European Union, the Arab
League, the African Union,
the Organization of
the Islamic Conference,
and many individual nations.
North and south, east and west,
voices are being raised together
to oppose suppression
and support the rights
of the Libyan people.
I've also asked my
administration to prepare the
full range of options that we
have to respond to this crisis.
This includes those actions
we may take and those we will
coordinate with our
allies and partners,
or those that we'll
carry out through
multilateral institutions.
Like all governments, the Libyan
government has a responsibility
to refrain from violence, to
allow humanitarian assistance
to reach those in need,
and to respect the rights
of its people.
It must be held accountable
for its failure to meet those
responsibilities, and face the
cost of continued violations
of human rights.
This is not simply a concern
of the United States.
The entire world is
watching, and we will
coordinate our assistance and
accountability measures with
the international community.
To that end, Secretary Clinton
and I have asked Bill Burns,
our Under Secretary of
State for Political Affairs,
to make several stops in Europe
and the region to intensify our
consultations with allies
and partners about the
situation in Libya.
I've also asked Secretary
Clinton to travel to Geneva
on Monday, where a number of
foreign ministers will convene
for a session of the
Human Rights Council.
There she'll hold consultations
with her counterparts on events
throughout the region and
continue to ensure that we
join with the international
community to speak with one
voice to the government
and the people of Libya.
And even as we are focused on
the urgent situation in Libya,
let me just say that our efforts
continue to address the events
taking place elsewhere,
including how the international
community can most effectively
support the peaceful transition
to democracy in both
Tunisia and in Egypt.
So let me be clear.
The change that is taking place
across the region is being
driven by the people
of the region.
This change doesn't represent
the work of the United States
or any foreign power.
It represents the aspirations
of people who are seeking a
better life.
As one Libyan said, "We just
want to be able to live like
human beings."
We just want to be able
to live like human beings.
It is the most basic
of aspirations that
is driving this change.
And throughout this
time of transition,
the United States will continue
to stand up for freedom,
stand up for justice, and
stand up for the dignity
of all people.
Thank you very much.