World Leaders Hail Obama's Inauguration, Express Cautious Optimism

Many world leaders are hailing the new U.S. administration though several are letting President Obama know their expectations of him in the coming years.

Leaders from nearly every region of the globe praised Obama's historic inauguration Wednesday, while calling on him to act quickly to address the world's problems -- ranging from the economic crisis to the bloodshed in Gaza.

"Many hopes and expectations have been piled on him, not just by the American people, but also the rest of the world," said Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"The thing to do is to send him the most affectionate and cordial wishes so that he can fulfill these expectations," Berlusconi said.

"I would like to stress that the region has high hopes that your administration will deal with the Palestinian issue from its first day as an immediate priority and a key for solving other issues in the Middle East, which faces shaking crises," Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised Obama as an "inspiration" to the rest of the world, and said he is assured that the U.S. and Israel will maintain the same close relations the countries had under the Bush administration. He called on the new president to help being peace to the Middle East.

Obama called both men as well as Jordanian King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his first full day in office to express his "commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term, and to express his hope for their continued cooperation and leadership," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement released Wednesday.

But not all foreign leaders reveled in the celebration of Obama as the next president. Some expressed nagging skepticism -- or at best cautious optimism -- over the new administration's agenda.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly decided to ignore inauguration coverage Tuesday.

"The tragedy in Gaza made him so upset and he is so preoccupied with Gazans' problems that he does not feel like being glued to the television," the adviser to Ahmadinejad, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Los Angeles Times.

Ahmadinejad has called the incoming Obama administration "hostile" toward Palestinians.

And Venezuela's Hugo Chavez expressed outright disdain for Obama a day before his inauguration, when he said the new president "has the same stench" as President Bush.

Chavez was reportedly reacting to a statement made by Obama in which he called on the Venezuelen leader to stop supporting the Colombian terror group, FARC.

Remarks by Other World Leaders:

-- Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Great Britain: "The whole world is watching the inauguration of President Obama, witnessing a new chapter in both American history and the world's history."

-- President Nicolas Sarkozy of France: "He's not only the first black American president but he sets out with the determination to solve the world's problems.  We are eager for him to get to work so that with him we can change the world."

-- Prime Minister Taro Aso of Japan: "I am convinced that Japan and the United States, both in a position to lead the world, can build a better future by working together to share knowledge, willingness, passion and strategy."

-- King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand:  "On the occasion of your assumption of the office of the President of the United States of America, I am pleased to extend to your excellency my sincere congratulations and best wishes for your success and happiness as well as for the greater progress and prosperity of the United States of America and her people."

-- Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany: "I want to say that I believe today is a very special day, not only for the United States of America, but also a special day for billions of people all over the world."