In a speech highlighting a nostalgic visit to Indonesia, where he spent four years as a young boy, Obama spoke fondly of his formative years in the world’s most populous Muslim country.
“Indonesia is a part of me,” said Obama, who left around 10:45 a.m. (0345 GMT) for the G20 summit in South Korea, the next stop on a 10-day Asia tour.
His speech was an update to a major address he gave 17 months ago in Cairo where he declared a “new beginning” in U.S.-Muslim relations after the tensions over the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Bush government’s response to them.
Since his Cairo address, irritants remain on both sides. Al-Qaeda still seeks to attack its Western enemies. Little progress has been made in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and U.S. troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Confidence in Obama has dropped in many Muslim nations as a result.
“In the 17 months that have passed we have made some progress, but much more work remains to be done,” Obama said.
Obama said “no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust” but he promised, “No matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we have done. That is what we will do.”
Source: Agencies