Obama Meets With European Leaders Nov. 3

Obama met with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Javier Solana, who is the European Union foreign policy chief. They discussed Afghanistan, Iran, climate change and the global economy.

Germany Urges Iran to Step Up

Obama put the word out -- the U.S. has a new approach to foreign policy and that already has brought change. The European Union has stepped up to help Obama close Guantanamo and now Germany is urging Iran to behave.

Xinhua: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged on Friday Iran not to reject new U.S. President Barack Obama's offer to open direct talks on the country's nuclear program, saying diplomacy was the way to solve the dispute.

Obama has shifted U.S. policy on Iran since he took office on Jan. 20 and wanted to engage in "direct diplomacy" with Iran, according to the report of AP. "I think it is time for us to urge Iran and the Iranian leadership not to reject this hand," Steinmeier said in a speech to lawmakers on Friday and stressed the importance of "diplomatic solution" to settle Iran's nuclear issue.

The diplomats from the UN Security Council's permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany will meet "in the Frankfurt area" on Feb. 4, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said Friday.

European Union Ready To Help Obama Shut Guantanamo

The media and the republicans have been moaning and groaning -- You can't shut Guantanamo, Bush already tried. It's too complex. Where are we going to put the Guantanamo detainees? Blah, blah, blah.
Karl Rove recently proclaimed that Obama couldn't possibly close Guantanamo in a year.
This morning I turn on my radio and the European Union is saying it will help Obama because it's a new beginning. This is what happens when you do the right thing and become a world citizen- people step up to help.

IHT BRUSSELS: Several European Union countries said on Monday the bloc should help the new U.S. President Barack Obama close the Guantanamo jail by taking in inmates, while others remained reluctant.

President Barack Obama last week ordered the closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba within a one-year deadline. The prison, known for aggressive interrogation methods, is widely seen as a stain on America's human rights record.

"We need to shake hands with the United States. It is a new fresh start, Guantanamo has been closed and we are very pleased," Finland's Alexander Stubb said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Stubb said the EU should look at taking in those who have not been tried for anything but cannot go back home, and assess any requests for refugee status.

The issue will be discussed behind closed doors during lunch.

France has drafted a plan to take 60 of the 245 detainees.