President Obama distinct the 19th anniversary of the International Day of Peace with a series of meetings and events as he participated in the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The President began his day with an address to the General Assembly, where he spoke about the significant changes that have occurred throughout the world since the last gathering of this group:
This year has been a time of unexpected transformation. More nations have stepped forward to uphold international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming their universal right to live in freedom and dignity.
Following the address, President Obama met with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and pledged America’s commitment to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East. The Prime Minister decided with President Obama's assertion that direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine are the only way to achieve that goal:
I think the Palestinians want to attain a state through the international community, but they’re not equipped yet to give peace to Israel in return. And my hope is that there will be other leaders in the world, responsible leaders, who will heed your call, Mr. President, and oppose this effort to shortcut peace discussions in fact, to avoid them. Because I think that avoiding these negotiations is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians, and bad for peace.
The President had his first face to face meeting with Japan's new Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda. The two leaders discussed the ongoing recovery from the earthquake and tsunami that overwhelmed that country earlier this year, and the importance of the strong Japan-U.S. relationship. The Prime Minister echoed the President’s desire to uphold this vital partnership:
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