We're on the road to Middle East peace, Obama says
Barack Obama has said he believes his administration can bring Middle East peace talks "back on track"
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Tuesday, 02, Jun 2009 02:22
Barack Obama has said he believes his administration can bring Middle East peace talks "back on track".
In his first interview with a British broadcaster, Mr Obama said it was in the interest of Palestinian people to have a separate state and in the interest of Israeli people for stability to return to the region.
He added: "And it's in the interest of the United States that we've got two states living side by side in peace and security."
Speaking to the BBC the US president also said he was confident progress could be made with Iran by the end of the year through "tough, direct diplomacy".
Mr Obama is due to travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow before travelling to Egypt and then Europe for the 65th anniversary celebrations of D-Day.
The president has come in for some criticism ahead of the trip due to his decision to give a speech in Cairo, with human rights group highlighting Egypt's controversial approach to political freedom.
However, Mr Obama said it was not up to the US to lecture other countries on how to behave but instead there were "universal principles" that the Middle Eastern countries could adhere to.
"The danger, I think, is when the United States, or any country, thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture," he said.
"Part of what we want to affirm to the world is that these are values that are important even when it's hard, maybe especially when it's hard and not just when it's easy.
"That's why, for example, closing Guantanamo from my perspective is as difficult as it is important."