Obama urges Europe to stand with U.S. on Afghanistan

BERLIN (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama urged Europe on Thursday to stand by the United States in bringing stability to Afghanistan and confronting threats from climate change to nuclear proliferation.

In the text of a speech to be delivered at the "Victory Column" in Berlin's Tiergarten park, Obama said America had no better partner than Europe and said the allies should resist the temptation to turn inward.

"No one welcomes war. I recognise the enormous difficulties in Afghanistan," Obama said.

"But my country and yours have a stake in seeing that NATO's first mission beyond Europe's borders is a success. For the people of Afghanistan, and for our shared security, the work must be done. America cannot do this alone."

Obama said Europe and the United States needed to stand together to send Iran a message that it must abandon its nuclear ambitions. He urged both sides to move beyond their differences over the Iraq war to help suffering Iraqis rebuild their lives.

(Writing by Noah Barkin)