World Leaders Relieved at Obama's First Few Days

World leaders are taking a wait and see attitude towards America's new President Barack Obama. But the first opinions are in, and in most cases, it's a big sigh of relief.

The new U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says in dozens of calls she made to world leaders, words like 'relieved', and 'appreciative' was what they said to her about President Barack Obama. The Los Angeles Times reports that the world leaders spoke to her of their "appreciation" for the Obama foreign policy team's new direction.

"There's a great exhalation of breath going on around the world as people express their appreciation for the new direction that's being set, and the team that's put together by the president to carry out our foreign policy goals. We have a lot of damage to repair."

The leaders can see that in the seven days since Barack Obama was sworn in as President, he has already named special emissaries to the Middle East and South Asia, and has sent the Mideast envoy, George J. Mitchell, on an inaugural overseas trip. In addition, Obama has repeatedly said he wants to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and has promised a major address to the Muslim world, from somewhere abroad, before June. World leaders are also looking at Obama's orders to close the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and abolish harsh interrogation practices. Clinton says the various overtures she has made, have been successful in building goodwill around the world.

"In areas of the world that have felt either overlooked, or not receiving appropriate attention for the problems they are experiencing, there's a welcoming of the engagement that we are promising,"

Mrs. Clinton hinted that the new administration might change at least some aspects of its predecessor's diplomatic approaches to Iran and North Korea. She indicated the administration will "monitor" international talks over Iran's nuclear program, which begin next week. And as regards, North Korea, she said President Bush's six-party negotiation process is still essential, but she stopped short of endorsing the entire approach. She would not say whether the United States has plans to make a diplomatic overture to Syria, saying that, for the moment, the administration was focused on working on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. And on a phone call with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, she reinforced the U.S. commitment to a "democratic and sovereign Iraq," and the importance of provincial elections scheduled for this weekend. Clinton called 37 world leaders by midday Tuesday, including four from Israel. Clinton denies that the Obama foreign policy team, which includes skilled and strong-willed figures who were on opposing sides of last year's presidential primary campaign, could become bogged down in internal feuding.

"We've already established a collegial, effective working relationship."