1 00:00:00,370 --> 00:00:04,451 In recent weeks, rising violence and fighting have taken the lives of innocent 2 00:00:04,451 --> 00:00:07,851 civillians- men, women and children. 3 00:00:07,851 --> 00:00:12,018 Heated rhetoric on both sides has raised the risk of war. 4 00:00:12,018 --> 00:00:16,568 So today I want to speak directly to you- the people of Sudan and 5 00:00:16,568 --> 00:00:20,830 South Sudan. In your lives you've endured extraordinary hardships. 6 00:00:20,830 --> 00:00:24,552 You carry in your hearts the memory of family and friends you've lost; 7 00:00:24,552 --> 00:00:28,668 but in recent years against great odds, you've made remarkable 8 00:00:28,668 --> 00:00:32,167 progress toward breaking the violent cycles of the past 9 00:00:32,167 --> 00:00:36,085 toward building a future of peace and greater prosperity. 10 00:00:36,085 --> 00:00:40,251 Now all that progress is at risk of unraveling. 11 00:00:40,251 --> 00:00:44,620 So my message to you today is simple: It doesn't have 12 00:00:44,620 --> 00:00:48,601 to be this way. Conflict is not inevitable. 13 00:00:48,601 --> 00:00:52,233 You still have a choice. You still have a chance to avoid being dragged 14 00:00:52,233 --> 00:00:56,782 back into war which only leads to one place- more suffering, 15 00:00:56,782 --> 00:01:00,469 more refugees, more death, more 16 00:01:00,469 --> 00:01:04,435 lost dreams for you and your children. We know what 17 00:01:04,435 --> 00:01:08,668 needs to happen. The Government of Sudan must stop its military actions, 18 00:01:08,668 --> 00:01:12,451 including aerial bombardments. It must give aid workers the access 19 00:01:12,451 --> 00:01:16,735 they need to save lives. And it must end its support for armed groups 20 00:01:16,735 --> 00:01:20,517 inside the south. Likewise, the Government of South Sudan 21 00:01:20,517 --> 00:01:24,668 must end its support for armed groups inside Sudan and it must cease 22 00:01:24,668 --> 00:01:28,386 its military actions across the border. The presidents of 23 00:01:28,386 --> 00:01:32,434 Sudan and South Sudan must have the courage to return to the table and negotiate 24 00:01:32,434 --> 00:01:36,634 and resolve these issues peacefully. And all of those who are 25 00:01:36,634 --> 00:01:40,452 fighting, including in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, must 26 00:01:40,452 --> 00:01:44,535 recognise there is no military solution. The only way to achieve 27 00:01:44,535 --> 00:01:48,568 real and lasting security is to resolve your differences through negotiation. 28 00:01:48,568 --> 00:01:54,002 In times of tension, it's easy to forget that your future is shared. 29 00:01:54,002 --> 00:01:57,952 You will never be at peace if your neighbour feels threatened. 30 00:01:57,952 --> 00:02:00,955 You will never see development and progress, if your neighbour 31 00:02:00,955 --> 00:02:04,234 refuses to be your partner in trade and commerce. 32 00:02:04,234 --> 00:02:07,202 It's easier to start wars than to end them. 33 00:02:07,202 --> 00:02:10,585 And yes, peace is hard, but the forces of history 34 00:02:10,585 --> 00:02:15,972 which sometimes seems so large are not beyond our control. Your future belongs 35 00:02:15,972 --> 00:02:19,517 to you. It is in your hands. You have the power, 36 00:02:19,517 --> 00:02:23,650 the choice to say what comes next- 37 00:02:23,650 --> 00:02:27,921 whether your children will live in war or peace. The choice is yours, 38 00:02:27,921 --> 00:02:32,220 and now is the time to choose peace. As I've said before, 39 00:02:32,220 --> 00:02:35,961 those who have the courage to walk the path of peace will not be alone. 40 00:02:35,961 --> 99:59:59,999 They will have a strong and steady partner in the United States of America.