Obama calls world leaders - Malaysiakini

Mr Obama (right) spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Gibbs said, promising further details later in the day. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

WASHINGTON - PRESIDENT Barack Obama emphasised a desire to build stronger working relationships with Russia, Germany, France and Brazil in telephone conversations Monday with his counterparts in those countries.

Mr Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed 'stopping the drift' in US-Russia relations and building an agenda for their bilateral relationship, and agreed to meet to discuss shared challenges and opportunities, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Both countries, Mr Obama said, have a role to play in leading the rest of the world in reducing nuclear stockpiles and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

The two also agreed that, as new leaders from a post-Cold War generation, they have an opportunity to establish a different kind of US-Russian relationship.

Relations between the two powers have been badly strained amid vocal criticism of US foreign policy from the Kremlin, and Russia's war last August with the former Soviet republic of Georgia brought ties to a post-Cold War low.

Russia also has urged Mr Obama to scrap US efforts to expand Nato further eastward and put missile-defense systems in eastern Europe.

In Moscow, Mr Medvedev's office at the Kremlin said the two presidents discussed working to improve the strained relations.

Mr Medvedev also congratulated Obama on his inauguration last week, and both presidents expressed a desire to meet soon.

Mr Medvedev's press service said both men stressed they were ready to make efforts to ensure that ties between Russia and the US live up to their potential.

During his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Obama underscored his commitment to strong relations with both European countries to confront global challenges.

The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on responses to the world's financial crisis and in preparing for an economic summit in London in early April, immediately followed by a Nato summit in Germany and France.

The White House said Mr Obama also spoke with Mr Sarkozy and Ms Merkel about their shared commitment to Afghanistan, and the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Mr Obama and Mr Sarkozy agreed to continue close cooperation on Iran. Obama discussed the issue of climate change with Ms Merkel.

Mr Obama and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva talked about areas where their countries could improve cooperation on the environment, energy and efforts to resolve the global financial crisis.

Mr Obama also emphasised to Mr Silva the importance of strong relations between their countries. -- AP