President Obama on Situation in Tunisia
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 14, 2011
Statement by the President on Events in Tunisia
I condemn and deplore the use of violence against citizens peacefully voicing their opinion in Tunisia, and I applaud
the courage and dignity of the Tunisian people. The United States stands with the entire international community in
bearing witness to this brave and determined struggle for the universal rights that we must all uphold, and we will long
remember the images of the Tunisian people seeking to make their voices heard. I urge all parties to maintain calm and
avoid violence, and call on the Tunisian government to respect human rights, and to hold free and fair elections in the
near future that reflect the true will and aspirations of the Tunisian people.
As I have said before, each nation gives life to the principle of democracy in its own way, grounded in the traditions
of its own people, and those countries that respect the universal rights of their people are stronger and more
successful than those that do not. I have no doubt that Tunisia's future will be brighter if it is guided by the voices
of the Tunisian people.
ENDS