Obama Discusses Urgent Topics With German Chancellor Merkel

Berlin, Germany (AHN) - U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday morning before a long-awaited speech at Berlin's Victory Column.

The Democratic nominee-in-waiting had "a warm and productive conversation" with Merkel about "a wide range of foreign policy issues, including Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process... the urgency of stopping Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons," according to an emailed statement from Robert Gibbs, Obama's senior strategist.

"He applauded the Chancellor's leading role in promoting international efforts on climate change and affirmed his own pledge to pursue an 80 percent reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," Gibbs added.

Obama arrived in Berlin's Tegel Airport from Jerusalem to begin the European leg of his 10-day overseas tour. His hour-long meeting with Merkel at the chancellery had "a very good atmosphere" and emphasized the "great significance of close and friendly German-American relations," German government spokesman Ulrich Wilhem is quoted by the Telegraph as saying.

Obama also held talks with Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later that day.

During his flight en route to Germany, the freshman senator tried to "tamp down expectations" about his speech later in the day at the Victory Column. He also expressed hopes that his address "will be viewed as a substantive articulation of the relationship I'd like to see between the United States and Europe."

His campaign has repeatedly said the event is not a political rally; aides also told Time that Obama is unlikely to mention Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Campaign officials also dropped plans for a speech at the historic Brandenburg Gate last week after strong opposition from some German officials.

Obama is in a 10-day tour of the Middle East and Europe in a bid to strengthen his foreign policy credentials amid persistent criticisms that his proposals for greater diplomatic engagement with hostile states like Iran are "naive." On Friday, he will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. He holds talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, opposition leader David Cameron and British former Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Saturday before flying home to Chicago.