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June 5, 2009

Obama in Germany: Honors War Dead, Speaks of Mideast Peace
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US president pays homage to victims of Nazi Holocaust at remains of
Buchenwald concentration camp; calls for redoubling of efforts to get
Mideast peace process back on track 
      U.S. President Barack Obama (r) hugs Holocaust survivor Elie
Wiesel during a visit to the former Buchenwald Nazi concentration camp
near Weimar, Germany, 05 Jun 2009U.S. President Barack Obama is calling
for a redoubling of efforts to get the Mideast peace process back on
track. He spoke in Dresden, Germany after talks with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel. It was a day to honor the victims of World War II - and
to push for peace in the Middle East. At the remains of the Buchenwald
concentration camp, President Obama paid homage to the victims of the
Nazi Holocaust."It is up to us to bear witness, to ensure that the world
continues to note what happened here," he said. Earlier, in the
courtyard of Dresden Castle - in the midst of a bombed out city, now
reborn - he spoke of a modern day conflict and the prospects for peace
in the Middle East."The moment is now for us to all act on what we know
to be the truth, which is that each side is going to have to make some
difficult compromises," said President Obama. U.S. President Barack
Obama (2nd R) signs the golden book under the eyes of German Chancellor
Angela Merkel (2nd L) at Dresden Castle, 05 June 2009Speaking one day
after delivering a speech to Muslims worldwide from Cairo, Mr. Obama
said in Dresden that he is convinced the time is right for progress in
the peace process. He pointed to his recent talks with Israeli and
Palestinian leaders. And he noted his special Mideast envoy, George
Mitchell, will be returning to the region next week."I think given what
we have done so far, we have at least created the space, the atmosphere
in which talks can restart," said Mr. Obama. The U.S. president said he
discussed the situation in the Middle East with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel. He called their discussions productive, and said they also
talked about Iran and the world economy. Her decision to invite him to
Dresden was personal - a chance to shine the spotlight on a city in the
former East Germany,!
  that she knows well."It is a city that was almost completely destroye
d during the Second World War, was then rebuilt after Germany
unification. It has again turned out to be a jewel of German culture and
civilization," she said. President Obama's decision to go to Buchenwald
was personal as well. His great uncle served in one of the American
military units that liberated the camp. Mr. Obama said it was a memory
that burned in him for years.