WEBVTT

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In recent weeks, rising violence and fighting have taken the lives of innocent

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civillians- men, women and children.

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Heated rhetoric on both sides has raised the risk of war.

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So today I want to speak directly to you- the people of Sudan and

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South Sudan. In your lives you've endured extraordinary hardships.

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You carry in your hearts the memory of family and friends you've lost;

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but in recent years against great odds, you've made remarkable

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progress toward breaking the violent cycles of the past

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toward building a future of peace and greater prosperity.

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Now all that progress is at risk of unraveling.

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So my message to you today is simple: It doesn't have

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to be this way. Conflict is not inevitable.

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You still have a choice. You still have a chance to avoid being dragged

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back into war which only leads to one place- more suffering,

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more refugees, more death, more

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lost dreams for you and your children. We know what

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needs to happen. The Government of Sudan must stop its military actions,

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including aerial bombardments. It must give aid workers the access

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they need to save lives. And it must end its support for armed groups

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inside the south. Likewise, the Government of South Sudan

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must end its support for armed groups inside Sudan and it must cease

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its military actions across the border. The presidents of

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Sudan and South Sudan must have the courage to return to the table and negotiate

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and resolve these issues peacefully. And all of those who are

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fighting, including in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, must

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recognise there is no military solution. The only way to achieve

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real and lasting security is to resolve your differences through negotiation.

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In times of tension, it's easy to forget that your future is shared.

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You will never be at peace if your neighbour feels threatened.

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You will never see development and progress, if your neighbour

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refuses to be your partner in trade and commerce.

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It's easier to start wars than to end them.

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And yes, peace is hard, but the forces of history

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which sometimes seems so large are not beyond our control. Your future belongs

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to you. It is in your hands. You have the power,

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the choice to say what comes next-

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whether your children will live in war or peace. The choice is yours,

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and now is the time to choose peace. As I've said before,

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those who have the courage to walk the path of peace will not be alone.

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They will have a strong and steady partner in the United States of America.