'The US and Europe Standing Shoulder to Shoulder'-Letter from German Foreign Minister

[babylonsister]

'The US and Europe Standing Shoulder to Shoulder'

By Frank-Walter Steinmeier

In a letter to Barack Obama, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier offers the US president-elect a "new dimension of cooperation" in trans-Atlantic relations. He foresees the US and Europe standing shoulder to shoulder and says Germany will "step up its contribution" to help create a stable Iraq.


AP
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1402117,00.jpg
United States President-elect Barack Obama

Dear Barack Obama:

Last July, hundreds of thousands gathered before the Victory Column in Berlin to hear your vision of a better America and a more peaceful world. Your words moved millions of TV viewers. You rekindled the American dream for which countless people the world over have admired your country for more than 200 years, the dream of a society that has the power to change, that is open to new ideas, and that gives those with courage room to take their destiny into their own hands.

In a few days time you will take office as the 44th President of the United States of America. I am now 53 years of age, and never before to my recollection has there been such a feeling of hope and confidence about the inauguration of a US president -- not only here in Germany, but worldwide.

The expectations placed in you are almost beyond the human dimension, and the challenges you will face from day one are huge: a still-fragile financial system, an economy heading for recession, and an uncertain, changing world.

An impossible task? In any case one requiring courage, circumspection and stamina, and to be sure also new thinking that challenges old ideas and seeks new routes.

Your campaign was thrilling. You gave people, in the US and beyond, enthusiasm for a new start towards a shared future. You want to act in a spirit of partnership and to embark on a new course. This is why we see your incoming Administration above all as an opportunity, at this particular juncture, also for us here in Germany.

more...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,600721,00.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. So we may get some help cleaning up Bush's mess

glad Obama is coming into office with such good will. This will help a lot, especially financial aid.

[bemildred]

2. They really do not want the Middle East to fall apart.

And they are right.

[babylonsister]

4. It's nice to see this kind of support. Gives me that hope Obama has

inspired.

[snappyturtle]

3. K&R Wonderful. nt