Obama: Real peace requires justice and opportunity

12/10/09 | Associated Press

OSLO — President Barack Obama says lasting peace requires human rights and economic opportunity for individuals, and sanctions against regimes that violate international rules.

As Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Thursday he said war is sometimes necessary but a resilient peace can be achieved if the world imposes several conditions.

He said the international community must impose meaningful sanctions on nations such as Iran and North Korea when they violate limits on nuclear development. He said the same applies to nations such as Darfur and Burma when they abuse their citizens.

Obama said governments also must grant basic human rights and provide economic security and opportunity to their people.

He said true peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.