German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday led a chorus of European
praise for Barack Obama, with the United States’ traditional allies
looking to yet more openness and better trade ties from the President’s
second mandate.
“I look forward to continuing this (cooperation), so that both our
countries can continue to work side-by-side to master the most important
foreign and economic challenges that we face as friends and allies.”
Ms. Merkel cited the pair’s past “close and friendly cooperation”
regarding the ongoing financial crisis, peacekeeping in Afghanistan and
efforts to control Iran’s nuclear programme.
British PM David Cameron stressed cooperation on efforts to revive the
world economy and resolve diplomatic conundrums, such as the Syrian
conflict, as the key issues facing transatlantic relations over the next
four years.
“There are so many things that we need to do: we need to kick start the
world economy and I want to see an EU-US trade deal,” Mr. Cameron said
in a statement issued during his current tour of the Middle East.
“Right here in Jordan I am hearing appalling stories about what has
happened inside Syria, so one of the first things I want to talk to
Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis,” Mr.
Cameron said.
In his congratulatory message to Mr. Obama, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh referred to the association between the two leaders over the past
four years and recalled that cooperation between the two countries has
not only been advanced across the full spectrum of ties but engagement
has been deepened.
In Brussels, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Mr. Obama should help them
address “global challenges, including in the fields of security and
economy.” They also highlighted efforts to “unlock the unparalleled
potential of the trans-Atlantic market” as a priority.
French President Francois Hollande congratulated Mr. Obama on his
re-election as US president, saying voters had made the choice of “an
open America” that believes in solidarity and multilateralism.
“It’s an important moment for the United States but also for the world,” Mr. Hollande said in a message to Mr. Obama.
“Your re-election is a clear choice in favour of an open America that
shows solidarity and is fully committed to the international stage and
aware of our planet’s challenges: peace, the economy and the
environment,” he said.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt praised Mr. Obama’s “inclusive
campaign” but noted that Mr. Obama faced major challenges since Congress
was politically divided, and it remained to be seen how the President
would be able to carry out his economic policy.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius said he had “no complaints”
about Mr. Obama, despite describing himself as a conservative, while
Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo said Americans had opted for “a more
just and more tolerant America.”
“Your re—election is a clear choice in favor of an America that is open,
unified, completely engaged in the international scene and conscious of
the challenges facing our planet- peace, the economy and the
environment.” French President Francois Hollande.
Other reactions
“When you were elected in 2008, you inspired the world with a call to
take responsibility for the problems we face as global citizens. Since
then, you have made earnest efforts to live up to that great hope and
trust placed in you by the American public. I believe you have been
re-elected now in recognition of that effort,” said the Dalai Lama.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen: “The bond between Europe
and North America, based upon the shared values on which our alliance
was founded over 60 years ago, remains as strong, and as important to
the preservation of Euro—Atlantic peace and security, as ever. President
Obama has demonstrated outstanding leadership in maintaining this vital
bond.”
“I will continue to work with President Obama to preserve the strategic
interests of Israel’s citizens,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, who has had a strained relationship with the American
president over Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“During the last four years when Obama was U.S. president, no
breakthrough happened in relations between Iran and the US. At the
beginning of his first term the situation was a bit better, but as he
went on the relations got much worse, with the sanctions being imposed.
So I think the outcome of the elections that was just held will not make
any difference for Iran,” said Amir Karimi, a resident of the Iranian
capital, Tehran.
“As a mother and as a grandmother who raises boy children, I think that
the symbolism of having a black man occupy the highest office is
something that can make my children very aspirational to know that this
is possible, you know, in their lifetime” said Zindzi Mandela, daughter
of former South African President Nelson Mandela.