The President:
Good evening, everybody.
My administration has been
closely monitoring the situation
in Egypt, and I know that we
will be learning more tomorrow
when day breaks.
As the situation
continues to unfold,
our first concern is preventing
injury or loss of life.
So I want to be very clear
in calling upon the Egyptian
authorities to refrain from any
violence against peaceful protestors.
The people of Egypt have
rights that are universal.
That includes the right
to peaceful assembly and
association, the
right to free speech,
and the ability to determine
their own destiny.
These are human rights.
And the United States will
stand up for them everywhere.
I also call upon the Egyptian
government to reverse the
actions that they've taken to
interfere with access to the
Internet, to cell phone service
and to social networks that do
so much to connect people
in the 21st century.
At the same time, those
protesting in the streets have a
responsibility to express
themselves peacefully.
Violence and destruction will not
lead to the reforms that they seek.
Now, going forward, this moment
of volatility has to be turned
into a moment of promise.
The United States has a close
partnership with Egypt and we've
cooperated on many issues,
including working together to
advance a more peaceful region.
But we've also been clear
that there must be reform --
political, social, and
economic reforms that meet the
aspirations of the
Egyptian people.
In the absence of these reforms,
grievances have built up over time.
When President Mubarak addressed
the Egyptian people tonight,
he pledged a better democracy
and greater economic opportunity.
I just spoke to him after his
speech and I told him he has a
responsibility to give
meaning to those words,
to take concrete steps and actions
that deliver on that promise.
Violence will not address the
grievances of the Egyptian people.
And suppressing ideas never
succeeds in making them go away.
What's needed right now are
concrete steps that advance the
rights of the Egyptian people: a
meaningful dialogue between the
government and its citizens, and
a path of political change that
leads to a future of greater
freedom and greater opportunity
and justice for the
Egyptian people.
Now, ultimately the future of
Egypt will be determined by the
Egyptian people.
And I believe that the Egyptian
people want the same things that
we all want -- a better life
for ourselves and our children,
and a government that is fair
and just and responsive.
Put simply, the Egyptian people
want a future that befits the
heirs to a great and
ancient civilization.
The United States always will be a
partner in pursuit of that future.
And we are committed to working
with the Egyptian government and
the Egyptian people -- all
quarters -- to achieve it.
Around the world governments
have an obligation to respond to
their citizens.
That's true here in the United
States; that's true in Asia;
it is true in Europe;
it is true in Africa;
and it's certainly
true in the Arab world,
where a new generation of citizens
has the right to be heard.
When I was in Cairo, shortly
after I was elected President,
I said that all governments must
maintain power through consent,
not coercion.
That is the single standard by
which the people of Egypt will
achieve the future they deserve.
Surely there will be
difficult days to come.
But the United States will
continue to stand up for the
rights of the Egyptian people
and work with their government
in pursuit of a future that
is more just, more free,
and more hopeful.
Thank you very much.