Obama calls World War II "universal struggle" (Roundup)

Jun 6, 2009, 14:18 GMT

Paris - US President Barack Obama Saturday praised the Allied soldiers who gave their lives in World War II, and called the conflict a universal struggle against evil.

'We live in a world of competing beliefs and claims about what is true,' Obama said at ceremonies in northern France commemorating the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

'In such a world, it is rare for a struggle to emerge that speaks to something universal about humanity. The Second World War did that.'

The war against Adolf Hitler and the Nazis was 'essential' because it was a battle against a competing vision of humanity,' the US president said. 'Nazi ideology sought to subjugate, humiliate, and exterminate ... It was evil.'

Obama spoke at the US cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer in the presence of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Britain's Prince Charles and the prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, as well as some 1,500 World War II veterans.

The event was held to honour the Allied soldiers who died in the June 6, 1944, invasion of Normandy, which marked the beginning of the end of the war.

Also present at the ceremonies, Obama said, was his great-uncle, Charles Payne, who was part of the first US army division to liberate a Nazi concentration camp. Obama's grandfather, Stanley Dunham, landed on Normandy six weeks after D-Day, he said.

Earlier Saturday, Obama and Sarkozy held talks in the nearby regional capital of Caen, with the US president again warning Iran not to pursue the development of nuclear weapons.

'Iran's possession of nuclear weapons would be profoundly dangerous ... for the entire world,' Obama told journalists after the talks.

Other countries in the Middle East would then be moved to develop nuclear weapons as well, Obama warned, adding: 'We can't afford a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.'

'The United States and France are together on this issue,' Sarkozy said. 'We do not want nuclear proliferation.'

The discussions touched on a broad array on subjects, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and relations with Russia.

Sarkozy said that 'never in the history of our two countries have the United States and France been so close on major issues,' including how to resolve the crisis in the Middle East.

'I told Obama how much we agree with him on the issue on Israel and Palestine - two states living side by side,' Sarkozy said.

Obama said that progress in the conflict 'would mean the parties are ... in serious negotiations to achieve a two-state solution.'

Obama also noted that it was in Israel's interest 'to resolve (the crisis) in a peaceful way,' and he called on the Palestinians 'to renounce violence and incitement.'

However, the two leaders did not agree on everything. Responding to a journalist's question, Obama reiterated his belief that Turkey should be allowed to join the European Union, which Sarkozy opposes.

'I think Turkey is an enormously important ally. They are interested in further integration in Europe. I would encourage that,' Obama said.

Sarkozy responded by saying that his and Obama's objectives regarding Ankara were the same - that Turkey should play an important role in linking East and West.

'But we differ on how,' he said.

The French president proposed the creation of 'an economic and security area' that would include Europe, Russia and Turkey.

'But, please, don't begrudge us a difference of opinion on one issue,' Sarkozy then quipped.

Obama was welcomed to Caen by several thousand cheering, flag-waving spectators. He responded by wading into the crowd, shaking hands and speaking with well-wishers, before he and Sarkozy and their wives entered the Caen prefecture for the talks and lunch.

Later Saturday, the Obamas and their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, are scheduled to visit Notre Dame Cathedral and then dine together at a Paris restaurant.

The US president is scheduled to return home on Sunday while his wife and children spend one more day in the French capital.