Obama: Change we can believe in

It has not even been two months since Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and he is already showing that he meant business when he promised "Change we can believe in".

At his inauguration, he offered a hand to those who unclenched their fist and followed that up with the first tentative contacts with Iran in a generation.

In line with another promise, he issued an executive order for the Guantanamo Bay prison to be closed within a year.

The focus of his attention has rightly been the economy. A huge stimulus package was navigated through Congress and the world now hopes that the economy will be revitalised. As the saying goes, when America sneezes, the world catches a cold.

Therefore, the sooner the US recovers, the better for us all.

Mr Obama and new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have also started repairing the tarnished image of the US in the world.

In contrast to the previous Administration, Mrs Clinton quickly engaged in Middle East diplomacy and appointed George Mitchell as envoy to the region.

Let us hope that peace will reign in the region which is so close to three of the most prominent religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

The new President, in yet another welcome change, has turned around the American attitude to climate change.

Above all, I hope that this Administration will also be remembered for having worked concretely towards ending famine in the African continent, where President Obama proudly has roots. Sadly, civil wars, blood diamonds and droughts have contributed very negatively in the continent. I have a dream... that this change can happen.