Obama and Cameron's Press Conference May 25

Entire video

For the entire transcript, go here. Obama answers this question from a reporter:

Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday in his speech before Congress, the Israeli Prime Minister referred to the Palestinian right of return as “fantasy.” And I wonder if that’s a sentiment you agree with in any way. And also, if you could outline for us a little bit how you -- your views on that issue, as well the future of Jerusalem.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: My goal, as I set out in the speech I gave last week, is a Jewish state of Israel that is safe and secure and recognized by its neighbors, and a sovereign state of Palestine in which the Palestinian people are able to determine their own fate and their own future. I am confident that can be achieved. It is going to require wrenching compromise by both sides.

Over the last decade, when negotiators have talked about how to achieve that outcome, there have been typically four issues that have been raised. One is the issue of what would the territorial boundaries of a new Palestinian state look like? Number two, how could Israel feel confident that its security needs were being met? Number three, how would the issue of Palestinian refugees be resolved? And number four, the issue of Jerusalem.

The last two questions are extraordinarily emotional. They go deep into how both the Palestinians and the Jewish people think about their own identities. Ultimately they are going to be resolved by the two parties. I believe that those two issues can be resolved if there is the prospect and the promise that we can actually get to a Palestinian state and a secure Jewish state of Israel.

And what my speech did was to say, let’s begin the work with the very hard-nosed but transparent and less -- perhaps less emotional issues of what would the territorial boundaries look like and what would Israeli security requirements entail.

And I believe that if the Palestinians and the Israelis begin talking about those two issues and get some resolution, they can start seeing on the horizon the possibility of a peace deal, they will then be in a position to have a -- what would be a very difficult conversation about refugees and about Jerusalem.
That’s not something that any party from the outside is going to be able to impose on them. But what I am absolutely certain of is that if they’re not talking, we’re not going to make any progress, and neither the Israeli people or the Palestinian people will be well served.

Let me just make one more comment about the prospects for a serious peace negotiation. The Israelis are properly concerned about the agreement that’s been made between Fatah and Hamas. Hamas has not renounced violence. Hamas is an organization that has thus far rejected the recognition of Israel as a legitimate state. It is very difficult for Israelis to sit across the table and negotiate with a party that is denying your right to exist, and has not renounced the right to send missiles and rockets into your territory.

So, as much as it’s important for the United States, as Israel’s closest friend and partner, to remind them of the urgency of achieving peace, I don’t want the Palestinians to forget that they have obligations as well. And they are going to have to resolve in a credible way the meaning of this agreement between Fatah and Hamas if we’re going to have any prospect for peace moving forward.

As for the United Nations, I’ve already said -- I said in the speech last week and I will repeat -- the United Nations can achieve a lot of important work. What the United Nations is not going to be able to do is deliver a Palestinian state. The only way that we’re going to see a Palestinian state is if Israelis and Palestinians agree on a just peace.

And so I strongly believe that for the Palestinians to take the United Nations route rather than the path of sitting down and talking with the Israelis is a mistake; that it does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people, it will not achieve their stated goal of achieving a Palestinian state. And the United States will continue to make that argument both in the United Nations and in our various meetings around the world.

Obama on Hamas:

Q Do you agree with the comparison between Hamas and al Qaeda?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: I believe that Hamas, in its own description of its agenda, has not renounced violence and has not recognized the state of Israel. And until they do, it is very difficult to expect Israelis to have a serious conversation, because ultimately they have to have confidence that a Palestinian state is one that is going to stick to its -- to whatever bargain is struck; that if they make territorial compromises, if they arrive at a peace deal, that, in fact, that will mean the safety and security of the Jewish people and of Israel. And Hamas has not shown any willingess to make the kinds of concessions that Fatah has, and it’s going to be very difficult for us to get a Palestinian partner on the other side of the table that is not observing the basic Quartet principles that we both believe -- that both David and I believe in -- the need to renounce violence, recognize the state of Israel, abide by previous agreements.

That is I think going to be a critical aspect of us being able to jumpstart this process once again.

Obama's arrival earlier today at 10 Downing Street where Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron discussed Libya and other topics:

Obama and Cameron Play Ping Pong Video

Obama is on a State visit to the UK. He'll speak tomorrow at Westminster Hall.

Joint Op-Ed on Libya by Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy

The article appears in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Le Figaro, and Times of London.

Libya’s Pathway to Peace
Joint Op-ed by Barack Obama, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy

Together with our NATO allies and coalition partners, the United States, France and Britain have been united from the start in responding to the crisis in Libya, and we are united on what needs to happen in order to end it.

Even as we continue our military operations today to protect civilians in Libya, we are determined to look to the future. We are convinced that better times lie ahead for the people of Libya, and a pathway can be forged to achieve just that.

We must never forget the reasons why the international community was obliged to act in the first place. As Libya descended into chaos with Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi attacking his own people, the Arab League called for action. The Libyan opposition called for help. And the people of Libya looked to the world in their hour of need. In an historic resolution, the United Nations Security Council authorized all necessary measures to protect the people of Libya from the attacks upon them. By responding immediately, our countries, together with an international coalition, halted the advance of Qaddafi’s forces and prevented the bloodbath that he had promised to inflict upon the citizens of the besieged city of Benghazi.

Tens of thousands of lives have been protected. But the people of Libya are still suffering terrible horrors at Qaddafi’s hands each and every day. His rockets and shells rained down on defenseless civilians in Ajdabiya. The city of Misurata is enduring a medieval siege, as Qaddafi tries to strangle its population into submission. The evidence of disappearances and abuses grows daily.

Our duty and our mandate under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 is to protect civilians, and we are doing that. It is not to remove Qaddafi by force. But it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with Qaddafi in power. The International Criminal Court is rightly investigating the crimes committed against civilians and the grievous violations of international law. It is unthinkable that someone who has tried to massacre his own people can play a part in their future government. The brave citizens of those towns that have held out against forces that have been mercilessly targeting them would face a fearful vengeance if the world accepted such an arrangement. It would be an unconscionable betrayal.

Furthermore, it would condemn Libya to being not only a pariah state, but a failed state too. Qaddafi has promised to carry out terrorist attacks against civilian ships and airliners. And because he has lost the consent of his people any deal that leaves him in power would lead to further chaos and lawlessness. We know from bitter experience what that would mean. Neither Europe, the region, or the world can afford a new safe haven for extremists.

There is a pathway to peace that promises new hope for the people of Libya — a future without Qaddafi that preserves Libya’s integrity and sovereignty, and restores her economy and the prosperity and security of her people. This needs to begin with a genuine end to violence, marked by deeds not words. The regime has to pull back from the cities it is besieging, including Ajdabiya, Misurata and Zintan, and return to their barracks. However, so long as Qaddafi is in power, NATO must maintain its operations so that civilians remain protected and the pressure on the regime builds. Then a genuine transition from dictatorship to an inclusive constitutional process can really begin, led by a new generation of leaders. In order for that transition to succeed, Qaddafi must go and go for good. At that point, the United Nations and its members should help the Libyan people as they rebuild where Qaddafi has destroyed — to repair homes and hospitals, to restore basic utilities, and to assist Libyans as they develop the institutions to underpin a prosperous and open society.

This vision for the future of Libya has the support of a broad coalition of countries, including many from the Arab world. These countries came together in London on March 29 and founded a Contact Group which met this week in Doha to support a solution to the crisis that respects the will of the Libyan people.

Today, NATO and our partners are acting in the name of the United Nations with an unprecedented international legal mandate. But it will be the people of Libya, not the U.N., who choose their new constitution, elect their new leaders, and write the next chapter in their history.
Britain, France and the United States will not rest until the United Nations Security Council resolutions have been implemented and the Libyan people can choose their own future.

Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States, David Cameron is prime minister of Britain and Nicolas Sarkozy is president of France.

Obama and Cameron's Press Conference Video

Obama Meets With British PM David Cameron July 20

On Obama's schedule today is a visit from Britain's new Prime Minister David Cameron. Obama and Cameron will have breakfast at 8 am eastern time.
At 11 am, they will meet.
12:20 pm, Joe Biden jumps in on a working lunch with Obama and Cameron.
2 pm, Obama and Cameron will hold a joint press conference. Check out a live stream here.
2:15, Biden swears in Carte Goodwin as U.S. Senator from West Virginia--and another vote for the extension of unemployment benefits. Goodwin will temporarily replace Robert Byrd, who recently died.

Obama's Speaks and Answers Questions at G20 June 27

Full video:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

After three days in Canada at the G8 and G20 gatherings of world leaders, Obama just finished speaking at the G20 and has one more meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister Kan Naoto, according to the WestWingReport. Then Obama heads back to the White House.
Obama says for some reason people keep being surprised when he does what says he was going to do. People should learn a lesson, he said.

Some of what he said, courtesy of CBS' Mark Knoller's tweets (I'll post video when it's up):

On NKorea, Obama says world needs to break "bad habit" of shying away from holding NK resp for its actions - ;like sinking of SK ship.

Obama notes Afghanistan is now America's longest war and "we’ll need to provide assistance to Afghanistan for a long time to come."

Obama expects that by end of year we'll "see progress" in Afghanistan & will conduct review & fix "those things not working."

Obama urges China against "willful blindness" about North Korea's "provocative and deadly" conduct.

Obama will get a better opportunity to talk to China's President Hu when he comes to the White House for a State Dinner.

At the G20, Obama met privately with David Cameron, South Korea's President Lee, China's Hu and Indonesia's President Yudhoyono.

Check out some photos here.

Obama and Cameron at the G20 Video

Obama G8 Photos 2010

See Obama's G20 schedule tomorrow here.
Obama's arrival to G8

Obama, Medvedev, Harper

Obama, Zuma, Cameron

Obama and African Outreach Leaders family photo

Obama, Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal

Obama, Cameron, Merkel

G8 and G20 Roundup June 26

Obama and PM David Cameron flew from G8 to G20 together

Video of Obama's arrival to the G20 here.

Read Obama's "From Crisis to Recovery" here.
Read Obama's opening statements and more on the White House blog here.

Obama met with leaders of China, South Korea and UK.

Read Obama and China President Hu's remarks here.

Read Obama and South Korean President Lee's remarks here.

Read Obama and Cameron's remarks here.

Read Timothy Geithner's press briefing here.
Read the G8 declaration here.
Read the G8 statement on nuclear weapons and Iran here.
Read the G8 initiative on hunger here.

The G20 leaders are meeting again in November in South Korea.

Visit the G20 site here.

G8 joint statement on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict by Dmitry Medvedev, President Of The Russian Federation, Barack Obama, President Of The United States Of America, and Nicolas Sarkozy, President Of The French Republic:

We, the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group's Co-Chair countries, France, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America, reaffirm our commitment to support the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they finalize the Basic Principles for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We welcome as a significant step the recognition by both sides that a lasting settlement must be based upon the Helsinki Principles and the elements that we proposed in connection with our statement at the L’Aquila Summit of the Eight on July 10, 2009, relating to: the return of the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, interim status for Nagorno-Karabakh guaranteeing security and self-governance, a corridor linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh; final status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be determined in the future by a legally-binding expression of will, the right of all internally-displaced persons and refugees to return, and international security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.

Now the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan need to take the next step and complete the work on the Basic Principles to enable the drafting of a peace agreement to begin. We instruct our Ministers and Co-Chairs to work intensively to assist the two sides to overcome their differences in preparation for a joint meeting in Almaty on the margins of OSCE Informal Ministerial.

Here is a readout of Obama's meeting with Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper:

President Obama and Prime Minister Harper met shortly after the G8 dinner session on Friday night. The two leaders have coordinated closely leading up to - and through - the G8. They reviewed the progress that was made throughout the day, and agreed to continue to coordinate their efforts heading into the G20. They also briefly discussed a range of bilateral and global issues. The President appreciates the leadership that Prime Minister Harper has shown around the G8 and G20 Summits.

Obama and S. Korean President Lee, Obama and Cameron

Obama's Schedule in Toronto for G20 June 26

Obama arrives in Canada

Canada's government is tweeting the G8 and G20, posting photos and such. There's also live video and news from the summit here.

Read about the G8 Maternal and Child Health initiative here.

9 am eastern (all times eastern), Obama takes part in the G8 working session.

11:45 am, Obama leaves Muskoka for Toronto.

12:35 pm, Obama gets to Toronto.

2:15 pm, Obama speaks with Prime Minister of UK David Cameron.

3:15 pm, Obama meets with President Lee of South Korea.

4:15 pm, Obama meets with China's President Hu

Obama's G8 Schedule June 25 in Toronto

Obama fixes Dick Van Dyke's bowtie at the Ford's Theatre

Obama leaves the White House at 9:10 am eastern.
10:30 am, Obama arrives in Toronto.
11:20, Obama arrives in Muskoka, Canada.
12:15 pm, Obama attends G8 working lunch.
2 pm, Family photo time at the G8.
2:45, Obama meets up with African leaders.
4:45 pm, Obama has working session with African leaders and others.
7:30 pm Obama and G8 meet with My Summit 2010 Youth, which is the international conference for youth that happens at the same time as the G8 and G20.
7:45 pm, Obama has din din with G8 leaders.

Sometime during the day, Obama is expected to have a private meeting with David Cameron.
After the G8 on Friday, comes the G20 on June 26-27, which Obama is also attending.

Readout of Obama's Call with Cameron

Today, Britain's government came up with a budget that cut spending and raised taxes. Obama will meet up with David Cameron in Toronto June 26-27.

President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke by telephone today with a focus on preparations for the G-8/G-20 meetings this week in Canada. The President noted the historic nature of the Prime Minister’s statement last week on the inquiry into the tragic events of Bloody Sunday, commending its contribution to Northern Ireland’s reconciliation efforts. Prime Minister Cameron updated the President on his government’s June 22 budget announcement. The two leaders discussed ongoing implementation of our shared strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the importance of rapid action by the European Union to resume the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program. The President looks forward to continuing their ongoing discussion of global issues on Saturday in Toronto, when he and the Prime Minister hold their first bilateral meeting since the Prime Minister took office.

Obama's Conversation With Cameron

From the White House:

The President and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke today by telephone in their first substantive conversation since the President’s congratulatory call on May 22, 2010. The President looks forward to seeing Cameron in Canada later this month and in Washington on July 20. The President affirmed his deep commitment to the special and historic relationship between our two countries.
The President thanked the Prime Minister for his commitment to lead on the broad range of issues on our shared agenda. The two leaders discussed Afghanistan, including the Prime Minister's recent visit, and they reaffirmed their firm commitment to NATO’s ISAF mission.
They discussed the decision by the United Nations Security Council to impose the strongest sanctions to date on Iran and the importance of follow-on action being taken at the upcoming European Council meeting, and they underscored the need for Iran to live up to its international obligations. They also exchanged views on economic issues, including preparations for the G-8/G-20 meetings later this month.
The President and the Prime Minister discussed the impact of tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, reiterating that BP must do all it can to respond effectively to the situation.
Finally, the President and the Prime Minister agreed to disagree on the desired outcome of the June 12 U.S.-England World Cup soccer match; the President noted that the historical record of previous World Cup matches between the United States and England favors the United States and the President wagered the best lager against the best beer in America on an American win over England.

Obama Invites Cameron to the White House This Summer

Today, I was pleased to call David Cameron to extend my personal congratulations for the successful campaign that he ran and for becoming the new British Prime Minister. As I told the Prime Minister, the United States has no closer friend and ally than the United Kingdom, and I reiterated my deep and personal commitment to the special relationship between our two countries – a bond that has endured for generations and across party lines, and that is essential to the security and prosperity of our two countries, and the world. I look forward to meeting with the Prime Minister at the G8/G20 meetings in June, and Michelle and I invited Prime Minister Cameron and his wife Samantha to visit Washington this summer.

I also send my best wishes to Gordon Brown, and thank him for his friendship and his distinguished service as Prime Minister. He provided strong leadership during challenging times, and I have been grateful for his partnership. This historic election has been closely followed by the American people, and I have no doubt that the ties between our two countries will continue to thrive in the years to come.

Obama Arrives in London

See a British narrated video of the Obamas arrival in London here.
Raw video of the arrival of Air Force One:

BBC: President Obama was met at Stansted Airport, north of London, by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and a senior official from the US Embassy.
He then boarded the presidential helicopter Marine One to make the short journey to central London where he will stay at the US ambassador's residence.
Before the start of the G20 summit of world leaders on Thursday, Mr Obama will hold extensive talks with Gordon Brown, meet the UK opposition leader David Cameron and have a private audience with the Queen.
The president is also scheduled to hold bi-lateral meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

The president's wife, Michelle Obama, will take part in a series of engagements with Sarah Brown, the prime minister's wife.
Mr Brown is keen for world leaders to reach agreement on a new set of rules for regulating global finance as well as measures to boost economic demand and support poorer countries.

OBAMA'S EUROPEAN TRIP
Tuesday: Arrives in London
Wednesday: Mr and Mrs Obama breakfast with the Browns at 10 Downing Street; Mr Obama holds talks with Gordon Brown; meets Russian and Chinese presidents, David Cameron, and the Queen
Thursday: G20 summit; Mr Obama will also meet the Indian PM, the South Korean president and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the day
Friday: Departs for Strasbourg; meets French president; holds town-hall meeting; visits German Chancellor in Baden-Baden, returns to Strasbourg
Saturday: Attends Nato summit in Strasbourg; departs for Prague
Sunday: Attends EU-US summit, departs for Ankara
Monday: Departs Ankara for US
CBSNews also has a nifty map and schedule here.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Commander in Briefs

The UK has a funny photo spread on world leaders in swim trunks. 
Obama has caused a stir with this shirtless photo. Our prez is fit fit fit and fine fine fine, as a few folks on Twitter have pointed out.

Daily Mail: Several world leaders have tried in recent years to impress the crowds with a topless holiday shoot - with varying degrees of success.

Vladimir Putin became a sex symbol in Russia after he was pictured stripped down to the waist in the summer in Siberia.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy had a tougher time after he was snapped bare-chested in a canoe in New Hampshire.

The picture was air-brushed to make him appear more svelte.

David Cameron has tried to get in on the act, while bodyboarding in South Africa.

And Bill Clinton appeared in his trunks while in Honolulu in 1993 - but his figure wasn't a patch on Mr Obama's.

Mr Obama, 47, who takes office next month, is a fitness fanatic and refused to give up his daily workouts even during the heat of the campaign.

Obama's London Meet Up

Update: Obama meets Gordon Brown - video






This is the last leg of the tour and what a tour it was. Obama did the U.S. proud. 

LONDON (AFP) - US presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in London Friday, the last scheduled stop on a world tour aimed at boosting his foreign policy credentials before elections later this year.

The Democratic Party senator touched down from Paris, where he held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, praising him for his more pro-American stance and France's military efforts in Afghanistan.

In the British capital, he will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his predecessor Tony Blair -- now the international community's Middle East envoy -- and the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, David Cameron.

Obama, his then-rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, and the Republican Party candidate, John McCain, met Brown in Washington when he visited in April. Brown previously met McCain in London in March.

......

Friday's Daily Mirror headlined a front-page story on his Berlin speech "Obamamania!" He also made the front pages of six other national newspapers.

Likely topics for discussion include Iraq and Afghanistan, where British troops are fighting alongside their US counterparts, and the Middle East. Like Obama, Brown has recently visited Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Brown will doubtless be encouraged by Obama's call for a more multilateral approach to US foreign policy, as he has pushed a similar line. He also wants troop reductions in Iraq and reinforcements from NATO countries in Afghanistan.

Earlier Friday, Obama signalled his appreciation for a warming of US-French relations that were hit by former president Jacques Chirac's opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Obama's Trip Details

Update: Details and map of his trip

Update: Obama lands in Afghanistan
More details on Obama's trip overseas. Here are the people he'll meet:

Time: The campaign also provided a fuller list than we have seen to date of the foreign leaders with whom Obama will be meeting. They include: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative Party Leader David Cameron; German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier; French President Nicolas Sarkozy. In Israel, he will meet with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu. And in Ramallah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.

I'm hoping Obama's trip is more than swooning folks, though it's exciting to know that Obama inspires so many, and yes, I want to see them swoon. 

I hope, and I think that he will, have meaningful discussions with all the leaders he meets.
Then, I hope Americans are satisfied that he's ready to be commander in chief and he gets back to the economy because people really want to hear more details on that. 

There's no sign that foreclosures are letting up. What's going to happen to the surplus of houses?
The economy is such a mess. It's like all the pieces of the puzzle went awry. How to put it back together?
Obama needs to blow McCain out of the water with more economy details.