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Obama: U.S. to Support Democratic Transitions

On February 12, President Obama pledged to “stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to democracy,” in his State of the Union Address. “We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian,” he said.

            On February 12, President Obama pledged to “stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to democracy,” in his State of the Union Address. “We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian,” he said. The following is an excerpt from his speech, followed by a link to the full transcript.

            In defense of freedom, we’ll remain the anchor of strong alliances from the Americas to Africa; from Europe to Asia. In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to democracy.

            We know the process will be messy, and we cannot presume to dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt, but we can -- and will -- insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people. We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian. And we will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace.

Click here for the full transcript.

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