|
 On Thursday eminent world leaders who were impatient to get a new direction for America greeted the arrival of President Barack Obama with excitement. They have also sent telltale warnings of the challenges that the new chief executive and his administration are going to face.
Sources have thrown more light on the news of Barack Obama. The White House was flooded with leaders' best wishes, including those of Pope Benedict XVI, who urged Barack Obama to be "the promoter of peace and cooperation between nations."
Moreover many messages were laden with hints of the caution that one required in dealing with the difficult times ahead. However German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a conservative who had a good relationship with President Bush commented that she hoped that in the new era there would be agreement that "no single country can solve the problems of the world."
During the inaugural address Barack Obama, in a nod to the global sentiment and with Bush seated only a few feet away. It has left in his inaugural address that a significant part of his audience was on the far side of the horizon.
He promised a new era of American leadership and also suggested that the Bush presidency, with too great a reliance on force, had veered from the U.S. approach that had won World War II and the Cold War.
He continued, "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions." It was a direct repudiation of his predecessor that seemed to herald a return to earlier periods of American foreign policy. "We are ready to lead once more."
So far as U.S. allies in Europe are concerned, the arrival of the new president will bring them closer to Washington on difficult issues. For example he has to deal with international extremism and many more.
Governments showed that they were eager to start the new relationship in the true sense. For instance it is reported that Israel withdrew tanks and troops from the Gaza Strip, Russia resumed disputed gas exports to Ukraine, and South Korea sent a peace delegation to the North.
A senior European diplomat said that currently the allies expect real benefits from the Obama’s administration.
He added, "All expect this to give a boost to relationships with America and a boost to our joint efforts on our principal challenges."
Another official was very much optimistic about the whole incident. According to him, even though the foreign policy of Barack Obama remains like that of Bush in some ways, there will be "a change of tone, a new urgency,". "That will make a difference."
During the recent months international diplomacy remained in a state of suspension in since quite a handful of world leaders, who were tired of their struggles with the Bush administration, have waited eagerly for the new leadership.
To take for instance, Iran and North Korea have slowed negotiations over their disputed nuclear programs with the hope that a president who promised greater engagement will offer terms more to their liking.
One of first hand challenges of Barack Obama is to take initiative for directing efforts for the improvement of relations with the Muslim world. It is a task that has grown far tougher because of accusations that he remained silent as over one thousand and three hundred Gazans were killed during Israel's just-ended three-week offensive.
Obama vowed "mutual interest and mutual respect" in dealing with the Muslim world. However he also send a warning to the violent extremists that "we will defeat you."
He ruled out the use of harsh detention and interrogation techniques and did not outline a future role for Bush's initiative to promote democracy, which many critics considered a pretext for American meddling.
Aides also commented that barrack Obama would demonstrate his intention to get the right to work on Arab-Israeli issues thereby appointing former Senate Majority Leader George S. Mitchell as high-level envoy to the Middle East.
 Mitchell, who is of partly Lebanese ancestry, is an ex- judge who served as a Mideast envoy during the Bill Clinton’s administration. The officials also hoped that his appointment will be read as a signal of a more sympathetic attitude towards the Arab world.
Israelis, who rely on U.S. backing, were fussy in their welcome and also gave the indication that they could make adjustment to even a major change in policy from the new administration.
Israeli President Shimon Peres also expressed his opinion. According to him, Israel would not be give the alarm if the Obama administration opened a dialogue with Iran as well as with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza. But he predicted that doing so would be fruitless.
"He wants to build and make peace; they want destruction and war," added Peres.
A move to engage Hamas would be a sharp departure for the United States, which under Bush has had no contact with the group.
Nabil abu Rudaineh, spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, added that Obama called Abbas after the election with two messages: "He's not going to waste time, and his slogan is 'change.' We're looking for a change in the direction of American policy in the Middle East. America needs to be fair and to tell each side when it is acting wrong and when it is acting right."
In Tehran, an advisor to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad however stated that the Iranian president made an announcement of ignoring televised coverage of the inauguration.
As a sign of potential difficulties ahead, Afghan President Hamid Karzai issued impassioned new call hours just before U.S. presidential inauguration and allied forces for minimizing civilian casualties.
"We will not accept civilian casualties on our soil as a consequence of the fight against terrorism. We cannot tolerate it." Karzai has made this comment to the lawmakers during an opening session of parliament. |
News / Gossips by phclgoss
