Barack Obama: New chapter in American diplomacy.

 

Barack Obama was expected to unveil economic incentive packages for Egypt and Tunisia

US President Barack Obama says a "new chapter in American diplomacy" has been turned after the Arab Spring uprisings.

In a speech at the State Department, Mr Obama said the future of the US was bound to the Middle East by forces of economics, security, history and fate.
He was set to announce aid packages to Egypt and Tunisia - countries that are embracing democratic reforms.
But Mr Obama was widely expected to defend new sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He was also due to touch on the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
However, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says that after two years of failing to restart talks, no-one expects Mr Obama to announce a new push for negotiations.
'Carrot and stick' President Obama is delivering the long-awaited speech at the state department in Washington.
It is his first comprehensive response to the upheavals that have swept many Arabic countries this year.
Our correspondent says that following the death of al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, President Obama wants a new start with the Muslim world, although polls show opinions of the US are low.

Some details of the speech were revealed in advance by senior administration officials.

Mr Obama was to stress that Washington stands ready to help nations across the Middle East and North Africa to launch democratic reforms, modernise and provide job opportunities to millions of disenchanted young people.

He was to argue that such measures will help democracy take hold and thrive and deliver the regional stability that is in the interests of the US government.

Egypt and Tunisia - where popular revolts overthrew long-standing rulers - were also due to figure largely in the address.

Mr Obama was expected to write off part of Egypt's huge debt to the US to boost job-creation efforts. He was also expected to unveil an economic incentive package aimed at Tunisia.

In sharp contrast, Mr Obama was expected to justify slapping sanctions on Syria's Mr Assad on Wednesday.

A US state department official said it was time for the Syrian president "to lead a political transition or to leave".

It was the first time Washington had personally penalised the Syrian leader over the actions of his security forces. More than 850 people have died since the uprising began in March.

On the faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Mr Obama was expected to warn both sides that they face great risks by not coming together on a peace deal.

Mr Obama is to meet visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday.

Analysts say Mr Obama's speech will be aimed at convincing his US audience that the fate of countries in the Middle East and North Africa is worth the money and effort even during difficult economic times at home.

To his wider audience, Mr Obama wants to underline that Washington stands behind those seeking greater human rights.

The BBC's North American editor Mark Mardell says Mr Obama faces the challenge of trying to set out a coherent US strategy for the region.

This is because Washington's reaction has varied wildly from place to place - from military action against Libya to a ticking off for Bahrain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13450481