In Obama's Words

Obama holds a town hall meeting with future Chinese leaders

I should be honest, as President of the United States, there are times where I wish information didn't flow so freely...”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev make rematks at siging ceremony of new START treaty

One of the steps that I called for last year was the realization of this treaty, so it's very gratifying to be back in Prague today.”

• Other issues:Defense, Foreign Policy

Obama and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera hold joint news conference in Santiago, Chile

The core principle that has to be upheld here is that when the entire international community almost unanimously says that there is a potential humanitarian crisis about to take place, that a leader who has lost his legitimacy decides to turn his military on his own people, that we can't simply stand by with empty words; that we have to take some sort of action.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao at joint press conference

"As we look to the future, what's needed, I believe, is a spirit of cooperation that is also friendly competition. In areas like those that I've just mentioned, we will cooperate, forging partnerships and making progress that neither nation can achieve alone."”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama holds a town hall with students; the First Lady also attends

...I am absolutely convinced that the country that has the biggest stake in Pakistan's success is India.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon hold joint news conference

We're also deepening our cooperation against the drug cartels that threaten both our peoples. As I've said before, President Calderon and the Mexican people have shown extraordinary courage in the fight for their country. Tens of thousands of Mexicans, innocent citizens and dedicated security forces have lost their lives. I have reaffirmed to President Calderon that in this cause, Mexico has a full partner with the United States because whether they live in Texas or Tijuana, our people have a right to be safe in their communities.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama and Prime Minister Singh hold a joint press conference

Oh, well, I was instructed to only take one question. (Laughter.) It looks like the Indian and the American press are collaborating. That's not the kind of partnership we were looking for.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama and President Carlos Mauricio Funes of El Salvador hold joint news conference in San Salvador

Today, we're also launching a new effort to confront the narco- traffickers and gangs that have caused so much violence in all of our countries, and especially here in Central America. Our two nations already cooperate very closely in the fight against these criminals. As I said in my speech yesterday, the United States will do our part as the nations of Central America develop a new joint security strategy this spring. Under the Central American Citizen Security Partnership that I'm announcing today, we'll focus $200 million to support efforts here in the region, including addressing, as President Funes indicated, the social and economic forces that drive young people towards criminality. We'll help strengthen courts, civil society groups and institutions that uphold the rule of law. And we'll work closely with regional partners like Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Canada, and international partners like Spain, the European Union and the Inter- American Development Bank. This has to be a coordinated effort that draws on the unique expertise of different countries and institutions.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama delivers a speech to Parliament

Now, we all understand every country will follow its own path. No one nation has a monopoly on wisdom, and no nation should ever try to impose its values on another. But when peaceful democratic movements are suppressed -- as they have been in Burma, for example -- then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy, Government and Politics

Obama and President Yudhoyono hold a joint press conference

Now, obviously, much has been made of the fact that this marks my return to where I lived as a young boy. I will tell you, though, that I barely recognized it. As I was driving down the streets, the only building that was there when I first moved to Jakarta was Sarinah. Now it's one of the shorter buildings on the road.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama Delivers Remarks to Turkish Parliament

Turkey draws strength from both the successes of the past, and from the efforts of each generation of Turks that makes new progress for your people.”

• Other issues:Economy, Foreign Policy

Obama participates in an APEC CEO business summit in Honolulu, Hawaii

he United States is a Pacific power and we are here to stay. And one of the messages that Secretary Clinton, Secretary Panetta have been delivering, but I am personally here to deliver over the next week, is that there's no region in the world that we consider more vital than the Asia Pacific region, and we want, on a whole range of issues, to be working with our partner countries around the Pacific Rim in order to enhance job growth, economic growth, prosperity and security for all of us.”

• Other issues:Economy, Foreign Policy

Obama holds a press conference

What's remarkable to me, though, is despite some of those impulses we're still getting stuff done.”

• Other issues:Economy, Foreign Policy

Obama holds a joint press conference with President Karzai

More importantly, this visit's an opportunity for us to assess the progress of our shared strategy in Afghanistan and to advance the strong partnership between our two nations, one that's based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”

• Other issues:Defense, Foreign Policy

Obama Holds a Town Hall in Istanbul

I want to focus on three areas in which I think we can make some progress: advancing dialogue between our two countries, but also advancing dialogue between the United States and the Muslim world; extending opportunity in education and in social welfare; and then also reaching out to young people as our best hope for peaceful, prosperous futures in both Turkey and in the United States.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama addresses the U.N. General Assembly

I am convinced that there is no shortcut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace is hard work. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the United Nations. If it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy, Government and Politics

Obama holds a press conference

The most important thing that I can do for Europe is the same thing that I need to do for the United States, and that is to promote growth and increased employment in the United States.”

• Other issues:Defense, Foreign Policy

Joint press conference with Obama and Russian President Medvedev

We just concluded some excellent discussions —- discussions that would have been unlikely just 17 months ago.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama Holds a News Conference with Medvedev

The president and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States has suffered from a sense of drift.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy

Obama holds joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

Of course, our alliance is also rooted in shared interests, and we, during our lunch, reviewed a wide range of issues. I want to congratulate Poland on behalf of the United States for reaching the incredible milestone of assuming the presidency of the European Union. This is Poland's first opportunity to take on this leadership role since joining the EU. And it speaks to the incredible progress that Poland has made both politically and economically during this period of time. And we look forward to working closely with Poland as it assumes these new responsibilities.”

• Other issues:Foreign Policy