Baden, Germany, April 03, SPA --NATO needs to adopt a new vision to cope with the demands of the 21st century, dpa cited US President Barack Obama as saying during a visit to Germany today. "I don't come bearing grand designs," he said ahead of summit marking the alliance's 60th anniversary. "I'm here to listen, to share ideas, and jointly - as one of many NATO allies - to help shape our vision for the future." Obama was speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Baden-Baden, a German spa town where the summit was due to begin on Friday evening before moving to Strasbourg in France on Saturday. He said there was no need for Germany to be anxious about the reforms the alliance was about to undertake, specifically referring to its role in Afghanistan. Germany has been a stalwart NATO ally from the start of this conflict, he said, contributing troops and resources. Merkel noted that Germany had a "huge responsibility," and said "we will face up to this responsibility in military terms as well." The joint efforts of NATO members in Afghanistan need to be bolstered to make the alliance more effective there, Obama said.
