Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama answers a question during a news conference in Dresden, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2009. Obama said here on Friday that the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp would take "longer process of evaluation." (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan) Photo Gallery>>>

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks here on Friday on a wide range of issues of common concern.

    Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Obama said Germany was "a close friend and critical partner" of the United States and both sides would continue their cooperation on a series of international issues, including the Middle East, Iran and climate change.

    Obama dismissed widespread speculation in the German media about the allegedly lukewarm personal relations between himself and Merkel. He said his relatively short stay in Germany was "mainly due to a busy schedule."

    Speaking alongside Obama, Merkel pledged continuing German cooperation with the United States on issues such as the Middle East and Iran.

    When answering a question about the controversial Guantanamo prison, Obama hinted at a possible delay in the prison's closure. He said the "evaluation process" would take longer."

    Obama said Guantanamo was a "difficult issue," and that it might take his government "two or three years" to evaluate it.

    Obama had vowed to close the infamous prison by 2010, but his plan encountered opposition at home amid fears that the inmates could be released into U.S. territory.

    Earlier on Thursday, U.S. lawmakers voted to reject Obama's request for extra funds and restrict the transfer and release of detainees, giving another blow to his plan.

    Obama said the prison "contains people difficult to deal with," but the principle of rule of law should be stuck to.

    "We have to move forward (the issue)," Obama said.

    He said Washington needs help from Europe including Germany, and that Merkel was "open to discussion" on the issue.

    Merkel said the justice ministers from 16 German federal states were discussing weather to receive some Guantanamo prisoners.

    On the Middle East peace process, Obama said the "moment is now" to restart the process and called on Israel and the Palestinians to make concrete and serious steps to achieve peace.

    "We've seen extraordinary activity already on this issue, and that sent a signal to all the parties," Obama said.

    "The United States can't force peace upon the parties. But what we've tried to do is clear away some of the misunderstandings," Obama said. He said the international community "is going to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace but the ultimate responsibility lies with the two parties."

    On tackling the global economic downturn, Obama said he had seen "some progress" but more efforts needed to be made.

    He also affirmed that the United States would not resort to protectionism to fight the economic crisis and would keep its borders open for trade.

    Merkel, meanwhile, stressed the importance of implementing the decisions made at the London summit of the Group 20.

    On climate change, Obama said the United States was willing to take "decisive steps" in reaching agreements in Copenhagen.

    He said the United States will work together with Europe and other key partners on cutting emissions.

    Obama arrived in the eastern German city of Dresden on Thursday evening for a less than 24-hour visit after wrapping up a trip to the Middle East.

    Later on Friday, he will visit the former Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald, and injured soldiers in a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl.

    This is Obama's second visit to Germany in nine weeks since taking office. In early April, he visited the southwestern German city of Baden-Baden to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the North Altantic Organization (NATO).

    On Friday evening, Obama will fly to France to attend ceremonies in Normandy marking the 65th anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings.

Obama says "moment is now" to restart Mideast peace process

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S President Barack Obama said on Friday that the "moment is now" to restart the Middle East peace process and called on Israelis and Palestinians to make concrete and serious steps to achieve peace.

    "We've seen extraordinary activity already on this issue, and that sent a signal to all the parties," Obama said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden. Full story

Obama sees "some progress" in stablizing world economy

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that he has seen "some progress" in stabilizing the world economy but more efforts need to be made.

    Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden, Obama also affirmed that the United States will not resort to protectionism to fight economic crisis and will keep its borders open for trade. Full story

Obama calls Germany "critical partner"

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday said that Germany is "a close friend and critical partner" of the United States and both sides will continue their cooperation on a series of international issues, including the Middle East, Iran and climate change.

    Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden, Obama dismissed widespread speculations in the German media about the allegedly lukewarm personal relations between himself and Merkel, stressing that his relatively short stay in Germany is mainly due to a busy schedule. Full story

Obama: U.S. willing to take "decisive steps" on climate change

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said here Friday that his country is willing to take "decisive steps" in reaching agreement on climate change in Copenhagen.

    Obama made the remarks at a press conference after he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden. Full story

Obama says closure of Guantanamo takes longer process

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama said here on Friday that the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp would take "longer process of evaluation."

    Obama made the remarks at a press conference after he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Dresden. Full story

Obama, Merkel start talks in Dresden

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet at Dresden Castle in Germany June 5, 2009. Obama will pay homage to the dead of World War Two during a visit to Europe but will also tackle some difficult issues with Germany's present-day leadership.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DRESDEN, Germany, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel started their talks on Friday in Dresden.

    The two leaders are expected to dwell on the Mideast peace process, the transatlantic relations, the current global economic downturn and other international issues of common concern. Full story