Statement of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash Flow - Operating Activities
Net Income	$ 16,763,000	$ 16,648,000
Adjustments to net income
Depreciation and amortization, including intangible assets and deferred financing costs	15,321,000	9,847,000
Income from equity investments in real estate less than (in excess of) distributions received	1,328,000	(259,000)
Issuance of shares to affiliate in satisfaction of fees due	5,808,000	2,426,000
Gain on sale of real estate	(740,000)	0
Unrealized loss on foreign currency transactions and others	158,000	636,000
Realized (gain) loss on foreign currency transactions and other	241,000	43,000
Straight-line rent adjustment and amortization of rent-related intangibles	(3,386,000)	585,000
Settlement Of Derivative Liability	0	(4,469,000)
Impairment charges	2,019,000
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses	101,000	926,000
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses	1,620,000	(2,192,000)
Increase (decrease) n prepaid and deferred rental income	495,000	(496,000)
(Decrease) increase in due to affiliates	(488,000)	4,579,000
Net changes in other operating assets and liabilities	808,000	(1,870,000)
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities	40,048,000	26,404,000
Cash Flows - Investing Activities
Distributions received from equity investments in real estate in excess of equity income	2,773,000	80,753,000
Acquisitions of real estate and direct financing leases and other capital expenditures (a)	(182,158,000)	(149,163,000)
Capital contributions to equity investments in real estate (a)	0	(172,439,000)
VAT paid in connection with acquisition of real estate	0	(3,542,000)
VAT refunded in connection with acquisitions in real estate	2,295,000	4,728,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate	12,656,000	0
Funds placed in escrow	(1,617,000)	(5,666,000)
Funds released from escrow	1,432,000	7,407,000
Payment of deferred acquisition fees to affiliate	(4,760,000)	(4,513,000)
Proceeds from repayment of notes receivable	0	49,560,000
Investment in securities	0	(1,250,000)
Purchase of notes receivable	0	0
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities	(169,379,000)	(194,125,000)
Cash Flows - Financing Activities
Distributions paid	(32,287,000)	(21,520,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	172,000	1,138,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5,053,000)	(8,100,000)
Scheduled payments of mortgage principal	(3,911,000)	(2,779,000)
Prepayments of mortgage principal	0	0
Proceeds from mortgage financing	133,075,000	92,166,000
Funds placed in escrow	0	0
Funds released from escrow	(539,000)	(393,000)
Proceeds from loan from an affiliate	0	0
Repayment of loan from an affiliate	0	0
Payment of financing costs and mortgage deposits, net of deposits refunded	3,115,000	(6,683,000)
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net of issuance costs	172,046,000	156,714,000
Purchase of treasury stock	0	(1,370,000)
Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities	266,618,000	209,173,000
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents During the Year
Effect of exchange rate on cash	1,359,000	6,679,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	138,646,000	48,131,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	180,726,000	162,745,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	319,372,000	210,876,000
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Deferred Acquisition Fees Payable	$ 3,400,000	$ 6,400,000