Were here today to declare that the United States and france stand united in total solidarity to deliver justice to these terrorists and those who sent them and to defend our nations. In that spirit with heavy but strong hearts i welcome you here today. Francois, with your hand and my Statement Today will be longer than usual. Ive been traveling, and this is an important moment for our nations and for the world. This barbaric terrorist group, isil or dash and its murderous ideology, poses a serious threat to all of us. It cannot be tolerated. It must be destroyed. We need to do together. This is the unity of purpose that brez us here today. On your visit here last year you said that the french love america. We love the french. Sometimes we americans are too shy to say so, but were not feeling shy today. We americans love france because we dedicate ourselves to the same ideals that all people deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. France is our oldest ally. You helped us win our independence. We helped liberate france from fascism. We owe our freedom to each other. Who love france for your spirit approximate your culture. Since the attacks, americans have recalled their own visits to paris visiting the eiffel tower or walking along. We know these places. Theyre part of our memories. Woven into the fabric of our lives and our culture. I am very grateful to the french people for the hospitality theyve always shown me. When they welcome michelle and our daughters on their first visit to the city of lights. By my bed in the residence is a picture of me and michelle in the luxembourg gardens kissing. Those are the memories we have of paris, as early on i had no gray hair. So when tragedy struck that evening, our hearts broke too. That stadium and concert hall and those restaurants and cafes we see our own. In the face of the french people, we see ourselves. Thats why so Many Americans have embraced the blue, white, and red. Thats why americans at kajts light vigils have joined together to sing. We never have forgotten how the french people stood with us after 9 11, and today we stand with you. [ speaking french ] its been noted that the terrorists did not direct their attacks against the french government or military. Rather, they focused their violence on the very spirit of france. By extension, on all liberal democracies. This was an attack on our free and open societies where people come together to celebrate and sing and compete. Targeting venues where people come together from around the world killing citizens of nearly 20 countries, including america. This was an attack on the very idea that people of different races and religions and backgrounds could live together in peace. In short, this was not only a strike against one of the worlds great cities. It was an attack against the world itself. Its the same madness that has slaughtered the innocent from nij ear wra to the sinai, from lebanon to iraq. It is a scourge that threatens all of us. Thats why for more than a year the United States, france, and our coalition of some 65 nations have been united in one mission. To destroy these isil terrorists and defeat their vial ideology. Today president hollande and i reviewed our coalitions progress. More than 8,000 air strikes combined with local partners on the ground have pushed isil back from territory in both iraq and syria. Today president hollande and i agree that our nags must do more together. U. S. Assistance has supported recent french strikes in syria, and were going to keep stepping up that coordination. As we saw with the attack in mali, the terrorist threat goes beyond isil. This week ill sign legislation to sustain our support, including airlift and intelligence to allies like france as we Work Together to rout out terrorist networks in africa. Well do even more to prevent attacks at home. Building on our recent intelligence agreement, the United States will continue to quickly share threat information with france xwh in the wake of pair and hes with the threats in belgium, theres also a growing recognition among european nation that is they need to ramp up additional efforts to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters. As part of that im calling on the European Union to finally implement the agreement thats been long in the works that would require airlines to share passenger information so we can do more to stop foreign terrorist fighters from entering our countries undetected, and i am prepared to send teams of our experts to work on this with our European Partners to make sure were redoubling our efforts together. President hollande and i agree that russias strikes against the moderate opposition only bolster the assaad regime who has helped to fuel the rise of isil. We agree that russia could play a more constructive role if it were to strike its efforts to defeating isil. Like wrooiz wise president hollande and i agree that the way to bring peace to syria is to require active Russian Support for a ceasefire and a political transition away from assaad to a democratically that can unite the Syrian People against terrorists. Finally, francois and i understand that one of our greatest weapons in the fight against isil is the strength and resilience of our people. Here i want to speak directly to the mernl people. What happened in paris is truly horrific. I understand that people worry that something similar could happen here. I want you to know that we will continue to do everything in our power to defend our nation. Since 9 11, weve taken extraordinary measures to strengthen our homeland security. Our counterterrorism, homeland security, and Law Enforcement professionals, federal, state, and local, they are tireless. They have prevented attacks and they have saved lives. They are working every hour, every day, for our security. They did so before paris. They do so now, and they will not stop. Theyre the best in the world. But its not just our Security Professionals who will defeat isil and other terrorist groups. As americans we all have a role to play in how we respond to threats. Groups like isil cannot defeat us on the battlefield so they try to terrorize us at home against soft targets, against civilians, against innocent people. Even as were vigilant, we cannot and we will not succumb to fear. Nor can we allow fear to divide us. Thats how terrorists win. We cannot give them the good news is americans are resilient. We mourned the lives lost at fort hood, the boston marathon, chattanooga, but we did not waiver. Our communities have come together. Weve fwaun to ballgames, and weve gone to concerts, and weve gone shopping, and men and women who want to serve our country continue to go to military recruiting offices. Were vigilant. We take precautions, but we go about our business. Those that want to harm us, our actions have shown that we have too much resolve and too much character. Americans will not be terrorists. Ill say all this because another part of being vigilant, another part of defeating terrorists like isil is upholding the rights and freedom that is define our two great republics. That includes freedom of religion. That includes equality before the law. There have been times in our history in moments of fear when we have failed to uphold our highest ideals, and it has been to our lasting regret. We must uphold our ideals now. Each of us, all of us, must show that america is strengthened by people of every faith and every background. Related to this i want to note that under president hollande france plans to welcome 30,000 additional Syrian Refugees over the next two years. Here in the United States refugees coming to america go through up to two years of intense security checks, including biometric convenienting. Nobody who sets foot in america goes through more screening than refugees. Were prepared to share these tools with france and our European Partners. As francois has said, our humanitarian obligation to help did hes pratts refugees, those duties go hand in hand. On the statue of liberty, our gift from the people of france. There are words we know so well. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. Thats the spirit that makes us american. Thats the spirit that binds us to france. Thats the spirit we need today. In close, i want to salute the people of paris for showing at the world how to stay strong in the face of terrorism. Even as they grieve or reasons beyond returning to their cafes, riding the metro, going to stadiums, to cheer for their teams, crowds gather, including a mother who brought her children. She said to let them see that we should not be afraid. As one parisian said, paris will always be paris. Next week i will be joining president hollande and World Leaders in paris for the Global Climate conference. What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists that will be when the world stands at one and shows the world that we elizabeth be deterred from building a Better Future for our children. So president hollande, my fellow americans, lets remember we face greater threats to our way of life before. Fascism, communism, the first world war, the second, the long cold war, each and every time we prevail we have prevailed because our way of life is strong, because we stay united, because even as we are relentless in the face of evil, we draw on whats best in ourselves. And in the character of our countries. It will be no different this time. Make no mistake, we will win and groups like isil will lose. Standing with allies like france, we will continue to show the world the best of the american leadership. Viva la france, and god bless the United States of america. Mr. President. Translator ladies and gentlemen, please allow me first and foremost to thank the president of the United States for the solidarity he has shown immediately as we found out through the terror attacks. He was the first one to call me. It was very late in france. 2 00 a. M. When barack called. The president of the United States. I would like to sfres his solidarity towards france, his emotion, his compassion against. On that night he meant to tell me that the United States stood by france that the help would have no limit and that we have a joint duty to pull our forces together and fight terrorism. I do not forget either all of the messages that the American People sent to the french people over the past few days. The french colors, the french flag, all abound in many gatherings. These candles in place that represent france here in the United States. Signed in official serenade. It is true that 9 11 we all felt americans, but after the 13th of november americans felt french. Our two peoples together merged as one sharing the same emotion and also the willingness to fight with freedom to stand for our values. We are not two similar peoples. We each have our own history. We have our own culture, own background, but we share the same trust, the same fate in freedom. France, for what it is, the country, which we consider unique in the world because france speaks to the world. France came under attack for what is represented and what it stands for, whats culture, our way of living, as well as our values, our principles, but by targeting france the terrorists, currently murderers, are targeting the world. In these rest restaurants, in these cafes, as well as the conce concert venue, there were men and women, most of them young who came from 20 countries. At least thats the reason with the friends and family of the Young American student who came as well to share a moment of culture. My thoughts also go to the american that was playing at the concert venue. Our cultures on that occasion were together to bring the same enthusiasm and that were hit by terrorists. We are facing would organize itself on the territory that have substantial resources. Human beings and since the beginning of the year they hit many countries, denmark, lebanon, kuwait. As well as russthe russian plan. Together with president obama, today we want first of all, to share, share our determination, relentless determination to fight terrorism everywhere and anywhere. We also meant to tell the world that we will not allow those who want to destroy what weve built well not allow them to do it. To destroy what generation after generation, that we will not be able toamage the world and we need a joint response, a joint response. France and the United States stand together to bring that joint response. It is about destroying and taking back the land they currently control. We, therefore, decided, president obama and myself, to target strikes, to broaden their scope, to strengthen our intelligence sharing regarding the targets. The priority is to take back key locations in the hands of daiche and syria. It is also a matter of urgency to close the border between turkey and syria and prevent terrorists from crossing the border and coming to europe or other places and then to take such terrible attacks. We also took the decision to Work Together with our partners of the coalition in iraq and to support all of those who are fighting daiche on the ground. The aim is to make sure that these forces can be supported, helped and all countries that are willing to act militarily to destroy them. The resolution of these Security Council that was voted unanimously friday after being introduced by france and supported by the United States, this resolution provides with the clear basis to act. This is what france is currently doing. Our Aircraft Carrier is currently in the east of mediterranean, and allows us to enjoy more capability. Yesterday for the sixty tinl after the terror attacks. In addition weve been provided some assistance into iraqi fighters now both president bottom and myself strengthened our cooperation as early as the night after the attacks and i would like to commend everything that is being done so that intelligence and Information Available can be used for terrorists and to follow their movements so that we prevent from them from doing what they want to do. Beyond syria and iraq, what they want is somehow to spread fear everywhere so that we doubt, so that we make decisions which are exactly contrary to ma we want in terms of freedom and rights, about the we will not give in. That being said, we have to defend ourselves and use intelligence. Diplomatically, we are working on credible political transitions in syria within the framework of the process and i commend the work done by ministers to agree on a timeline that will enable a ceasefire. Of course, as quickly as possible and to threed Bashar Al Assa assaads departure. We cannot imagine the syrians getting together, gathering around the leader who is responsible for some of the most of the 300,000 the government that must lead to the departure. The syrian drisz is directly relevant to europe, first of all, gin the terrorist attack, but also because there are millions of refugees fleeing the regimes bombs. This is the reason why i reject identifying migration and terrorism. At the same time we must control the borders. Today people are risking their lives to flee when they travel it is together with turkey that we Must Find Solutions so that the refugees can stay close to their country of origin and to make sure that the required controls and checks are implemented at the border. On thursday i will be traveling to moscow to meet with vladimir putin, and i will tell him that france can Work Together with russia if russia concentrates its military action against isil and if russia wra fully commits to the political solution in syria. This is what we want to do. We want to gather all countries, all those who are willing to find a political solution in sear wra. We will not want to exclude anyone, but we want to make sure that these Political Solutions can eradicate terrorism. Lastly, next week that is on monday we will be hosting in paris a conference. I certainly could not imagine that this conference would be taking place against certain background. At the same time they cannot be any better symbol or the response of where the attacks took place, where the threat measures in terms of security, protections as well as independent values. Theres no greater symbol than holding this conference in paris with some 150 heads of state in government. Never before did france host so many leaders of the international community. Theyre coming to sort out the climate challenge and to work and to find the right agreement so that we can limit Greenhouse Gas emissions and make sure that our children and our grandchildren can simply live, but they are also coming to express their support to freedom to the fight against extremism. That radical islam which is becoming the its the same principal, the same values with the same word. Life. Yes. Simply life. Its the reason why im very pleased that president obama will allow us to succeed. I commend his recent statements of the past few weeks and months, but i also commend the commitments he has made in the name of the United States and also in the name of the world. It was very important that one of the most powerful countries if the world if not the most poifl and, therefore, with the highest level of emissions would also be there to face future what we will be doing early next week in paris means that we can continue to protect lives and prepare that of our children. Friends of the United States and given their history and the family values of both our nations, given our spirits, we both have that duty to act as a matter of urgently against terrorism and against d dash and at the same time to prepare for the future. Against that background even though it is a very dire one, im pleased to be with barack obama to send across that mess tooj the entire world. Thank you. Weve got time for a few twez. Im going to start with roberto of reuters. Thank you. This is a question for both of you. First, what is your reaction to turkeys shooting down russian plane today, and does this draw nato into a confrontation with russia . How do you keep this from spiralling out of control . President obama, what does this incident mean for future prospects of military coordination or military coordination with russia, and president hollande, ahead of your trip to moscow on thursday, what are the prospects for closer military coordination with russia given what happened today . Well, first of all, were still getting the details of what happened, and i expect to be in communications potentially directly with the president of turkey over the next several days. Turkey, like every country, has a right to defend its territory and its airspace. I think its very important right now for to us make sure that both the russians and it is turks are talking to each other to find out exactly what happened and take measures to discourage any kind of escalation. I do think that this points to an ongoing problem with the Russian Operations in the sense that they are operating very close to a Turkish Border and they are going after moderate opposition that are supported by not only turkey, but a wide range of countries, and if russia is directing its energies towards dash and isil, some of those conflicts or potentials for mistakes or escalation are less likely to occur. I also think this underscores the importance of us making sure that we move this political track forward as quickly as possible. Like president hollande, our view from the start has been that russia is welcome to be part of this broadbased coalition that weve set up. Theres never been a point in time in which we said that we dont want russia or other countries that may have differences with us on a whole host of other things to avoid working with us against isil. The challenge has been russias focus on propping up assad rather than focussing on isil. I had a conversation with president putin in turkey, and i indicated to him at the time that to the extent that they make that strategic shift focus on the vienna process where they have been constructed to try to bring all the parties together to try to execute a political transition, that all parties would fwrae to, and refocus attention on going after isil, then theres enormous capacity for us to cooperate. Until that happens, its very difficult. Its difficult because if their priority is attacking the moderate opposition that might be future members of inclusive syrian government, russia is not going to get the support of us or a range of other members of the coalition. But i do think that there is the possibility of cooperation. The sooner we agree to this political process, the less likely that you have, you know, the kinds of event that is took place apparently today. Translator its a serious one, and we can only regret it. Turkey is currently providing all of the information to nato, so that we can find out what really happened and whether turkeys airspace indeed was entered into, but we must prevent any escalation that will be extremely damageable. The only purpose is to fight against terrorism and dash. This is what we must do. All of us. And what just took place like barack means that we nus find a solution to the Syrian Crisis because we can see what the risks are otherwise. The risk of escalation. I, lfr, will be traveling to russia this week because we have this resolution of the Security Council and it does show that we must take action against daesh, against terrorism. That resolution has been voted unanimously in a way that was the broadest possible coalition. Then well ask president putin as i have done for i toll the russians a number of times already that the strikes must be against daesh. They are threatening the russians like us. Like france that was targeted over the past few days. We must therefore coordinate ourselves, cooperate, but on that basis, i make sure that were all acting against daesh and that we are part of the political process. One that must lead to the solution. We all know what the leaders of the solution are or are not. We know that there is a march today. Lastly ill mention the Aircraft Carrier which is in the east of the mediterranean now. As a matter of fact, there are also some russian forces, and, therefore, i agree that we must share our information and not contradict ourselves, and its already the case and well continue to do so. [ speaking french ] translator mr. President , the americans have some special forces in syria. Beyond the words and beyond what is happening, are you going to send special forces as well to syria . Are you considering some intervention there . Mr. President , beyond the emotion that you can feel here, beyond these beautiful statements, for more than a year you have been saying that assad must go, that a political transition is necessary in syria. Can you today here in front of us tell us a specific date, a deadline for assad to go . Were both president s. I can translate in english if needed. I heard the translation. You said president. We got two president s here. Translator i will not provide you with date because it must be as soon as possible. At the same time allow me to underline something. There is a new mindset now. The crisis in syria has been ongoing for four years. For four years. There are probably more than 300,000 a day. It is relevant to europe and the entire region without the issues of refugees. And those who believe that we could wait some more and that in any case it was far away, they now realize that we have an influx of refugees that the terrorists the risk is everywhere due to daesh. We, therefore, must act. You also asked me what we were going to do. What more . Who will intensify the strikes . We will have more specific targets to make sure that daesh resources, their means are cut off, including the command centers, the trucks carrying oil, the Training Centers where they prepare terror attacks. We will continue, and we will intensify our strikes at the heart of the cities which are currently in the hands of daeh. France will not intervene militarily on the ground. It is from the local sources that force us to do so. We have been supporting them for a number of months. We will continue to do so, and they will do the job on the ground after we after our strikes that will enable us to do so. Let me just make a couple of broader comments about the operations against isil. Weve taken thousands of strikes, thousands of isil fighters, including top commanders and leaders off the battlefield. We have squeezed their supply lines. We have empowered and armed local groups that are pushing against them, including most recently in sinjar. Were providing training and assistance to the Iraqi Government as they prepare to retake places like ramadi that have been overrun. Weve seen some success, but the question now is how can we accelerate . Even before the tragedy in paris, i had gathered together my National Security forces. It had been a year to review where we would make progress, what worked, what did not, and had put together a plan to accelerate and advance the pressure that we can place on isil. We intend to execute on those plans, but we also think, as francois said, that there may be new open ons the part of other Coalition Members to help resource and provide additional assistance both to the coalition as a whole and to local forces on the ground. With respect to mr. Assad, i think weve got to let the vienna process play itself out. It is our best opportunity. As soon as we have a framework for political transition the new constitution elections. I think its in that context that we can start looking at mr. Assad choosing not to run and potentially seeing a new syria emerge. It is going to be a difficult, long methodical process to bring back together various factions within syria to maintain a syrian state and institutions and to create the kind of stability that allows people to start coming back in and rebuilding their lives. Its possible. And the urgency that weve seen even before paris out of countries like russia wra indicate that they recognize they cant be there too long and ultimately win a military battle successfully. Thank you, mr. President. [ speaking french ] mr. President , could you tell us whether the Russian Space did, in fact, reach turkish airspace, and given the fury of the turkish response, how concerned are you that there might be a military component, if not in turkey, then inside sear where . Mr. President , regarding the translator when it comes toto strengthening the cooperation. How did you do you think they will have prevented terror attack that is took place in paris or will it enable us to prevent some further terror attacks . We dont have all the information yet. I dont want to comment on the specifics. We will be able to confirm what happened in part through our own intelligence and our own tracking. Its to how their interests are best served. The russians had several hundred people of their own killed by isil. The flow of foreign fighters out of there is a potential convergence of interests between the various parties. It requires us working with them to make the kind of strategic shift thats necessary and that frankly ive talked to putin about for five years now. It requires a recognition that the existing structure cannot gain the legitimacy to stop the war and until you stop the war, you are going to have a vacuum in which these kinds of terrorists organizations can operate more effectively. Let me say one last thing. Across the atlantic work tirelessly as i said earlier. They prevent the vast majority of the successes in disrupting plots are not advertised. You never hear about them. Were not for the dedication of those intelligence and Law Enforcement and military professionals, this would be a much more dangerous world. So you have to be careful about speculate about what if and could have and would have in a situation like this because its hard. You have eight individuals with light weapons. Thats a hard thing to track. What is true, though, is that we can do a better job than coordinating between countries and ive been talking to our European Partners for quite some time now about the need for better intelligence sharing, passenger name records, working to insure that when people enter into europe, particularly now, that the information across various borders is shared on a timely basis and you have biometric information with other technologies that can make it more accurate. It doesnt mean its always going to be 100 fool proof, but we can do better on those fronts. One of the challenges has been, frankly, in the past several years that you had different legal traditions, concerns about privacy and civil liberties. S all of which are entirely legitimate. They cannot be ignored now because thats part of the those are part of the values that we make us who we are, and that we have to adhere to. I do think that this is a reminder that this is a dangerous world and routing out small bands of terrorist groups who maintain good Operational Security and are using modern technologies in ways that are hard to track, thats a tough job. Were all going to have to pool our resources much more effectively together than we have in the past and i think when francois when francois goeo europe, his leadership, the leadership of other president s, prime ministers around this issue is going to be as important as anything that we do. Translator there truly is it is somehow an organization and terrorist group occupying the territory in iraq and syria, killi killing, and they want to install rules, not dishonor humanity. Which is what daesh is doing there. This is what they are trying to do in other countries everywheres kay stands. Then we have to deal with a number of networks more or less organized in a number of countries that are being used to lead terror attacks like was the case precisely in paris. We know that this dreadful plan was prepared in syria and then organized in a number of countries and there are also some accomplices in france, given that some of the terrorists are french. Those who committed these acts of war. So if we want to tackle terrorism, we must act not only to destroy daesh where they are in syria and iraq, but we must also dismantle and destroy these networks. How do with el proceed . First we take back the thanks to the local forces on the ground that we can support, by making sure that the territorial integrity of iraq is not this is what we can do. Then when it comes to protection measures, to protect our territory and our people, this is what i announced in france and this is what we have to do to eradicate these networks and all of these accomplices and those who are present. Some of them just arrived, others have been there for a long time. They are not necessarily identified as a threat. It is therefore necessary that we strengthen yet further or cooperation in terms of intelligence. The paris attacks generated a lot of emotion, but thats not enough. Compassion, solidarity might take note of it, but we must act. And for a number of days ive been trying to convince all the countries that can act to do so. I met with David Cameron yesterday. He announced that he would take a number of measures to his parliament. That is important. Today im here with barack so we can act with greater intensity and coherence as well. Tomorrow i will be hosting german chancellor Angela Merkel so european countries, including germany, can face up to their responsibilities including in terms of military intelligence and Police Cooperation and maybe more. We will also travel to moscow so that russia can take action against daesh, only against daesh. And then i will receive the head of the italian government, and we also have an opportunity to talk to all of the european leaders, given the European Council with turkey will be held on sunday. So it is all of that that must get together, and enable us to implement coordination, cooperation, no action, so that we can act on the source, daesh, and the networks that we can use. It is that strength that will enable us to succeed. Question from the tv. Both of you have talked about coordination, cooperation against daesh. Does it mean that the Single Coalition which you mentioned last week, president hollande, is gone, it is unconceivable to have the russians and americans to Work Together under a single command . And then Bashar Al Assad said you cannot put a date on the departure. Does it mean that is not a prerequisi prerequisite . Regarding the coalition of international community, i believe that the resolution approved by all of the Security Council enables us to say that now the entire world is committed to fighting against daesh. Then and this is what will check when i travel to moscow we need one single goal, that is to tackle terrorism and fight against daesh. Militarily, and i believe that we can have some further cooperation and coordinate military militarily. At the same time we have to be careful when it comes to the political solution. The one that will enable us to find not in syria, and suspect like weve said, we can repeat t Bashar Al Assad cannot be the future of syria. In vienna, we are already working with all of the countries, though they do not have the same stance, turkey, iran, gulf countries, the United States, france and of course all of those who are meant to find a solution. We must work on that transition. At the transition where Basharal Assad plays no role. Hes been the problem, he cannot be the solution. Just a comment quickly. We have a coalition of 65 countries who have been active in pushing back against isil for quite some time. France has been a part of that essential coalition, as has european countries, arab countries, countries as fair flung as australia and countries in Southeast Asia are part of that coalition. Russia right now is a coalition of two, iran and russia, supporting assad. Given russias military capabilities and given the influence they have on the assad regime, them cooperating would be enormously helpful in bringing about resolution of the civil war in syria, and allow us all to refocus our attention on isil. But i think its important to remember that youve got a Global Coalition organized, russias the outlier. We hope that they refocus their attention on what is the most substantial threat. And that they serve as a constructive partner. And if and when they do, it will make it easier for us to go after isil and daesh, though i think its it is important to recognize the kinds of air strikes that theyre carrying out, just like the kinds of air strikes were carrying out in and of themselves are not sufficient. The work we do to bolster local fighting forces the cutting off of supply lines, financing, oil, reducing the flow of foreign fighters, the intelligence work that needs to be done all of that we are doing now and that they can supplement. But thats going to be a process that involves hard methodical work. Its not going to be something that happens just because suddenly we take a few more air strikes. Thats the kind of hard work that i know france is pretardy prepared to do, and perhaps in the future russia will be as well. Okay. Thank you very much, everybody. It is a day of developing stories, all with a major impact on your money. Welcome to power lunch. Im mandy drury. And im tyler mathisen, as you saw president obama wrapping up a News Conference with frances president