Press Briefing on President Obama's Visit to the United Nations

The White House held a teleconference this afternoon to chronicle President Obama’s visit to the United Nations this week from Wednesday through Friday.

United Nations Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Susan Rice underscored the President’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, where he is set to address the General Assembly at the close of the three-day MDG summit on Wednesday. The President will underscore the United States commitment to building partnerships in order to achieve the goals by 2015. 

Rice also highlighted other initiatives the Administration has undertaken since Obama was elected President.

“We have ended needless American isolation…and badly frayed relationships” she added.

Rice was referring to the strenuous relationship former Ambassador Jon Bolton had developed with UN partners and agencies which branded the Bush Administration as reluctant to work outside of its own rigid agenda. 

Rice added that critical negotiations over the UN’s budget were underway, and the United States took a lead role in the development of UN Women—a new division tasked with boosting women’s equality and empowerment. She also cited the critical work her team was doing to keep the peace in Iraq and Afghanistan during elections and the promotion of Obama’s “new era of engagement” with war torn countries like Sudan. She added that critical to the work of the Administration will be moving ahead with tougher sanctions on Iran and North Korea for building up their nuclear programs—and thus violating international treaties.

Samantha Power, the President’s Special Assistant, underscored efforts in Sudan during a high level meeting organized by the US Administration for this Friday, September 24.  

“This meeting will ensure parties are unified and working together,” she stated.

Ben Rhodes from the Adminstration’s office added that bilateral meetings with China, Japan, Azerbaijan and Colombia are further indicators of the President’s commitment to unify parties and to build peaceful coalitions. The President will address the General Assembly on Thursday, September 23 as well as address the Clinton Global Initiative on Thursday evening with his wife Michelle by his side. On Friday, he will attend a luncheon hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.