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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Obama hails special relationship | Obama hails special relationship |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has said the US-UK "special relationship" will "only get stronger", after holding talks with prime minister Gordon Brown. | |
| It was "not just important to me; it's important to the American people", he told reporters in the White House. | It was "not just important to me; it's important to the American people", he told reporters in the White House. |
| The talks focused on the economy, as Mr Brown became the first European leader to meet the new president. | The talks focused on the economy, as Mr Brown became the first European leader to meet the new president. |
| Asked about their personal rapport, Mr Obama said they had "spectacular wives and wonderful children in common". | Asked about their personal rapport, Mr Obama said they had "spectacular wives and wonderful children in common". |
| On Wednesday Mr Brown will also become the fifth British prime minister to address Congress, when he is expected to warn against turning to protectionism as a response to the downturn. | On Wednesday Mr Brown will also become the fifth British prime minister to address Congress, when he is expected to warn against turning to protectionism as a response to the downturn. |
| 'Get stronger' | |
| At the White House press conference, Mr Obama said: "Great Britain is one of our closest and strongest allies and there is a link and bond there that will not break." | At the White House press conference, Mr Obama said: "Great Britain is one of our closest and strongest allies and there is a link and bond there that will not break." |
| He added: "This notion that somehow there is any lessening of that special relationship is misguided... The relationship is not only special and strong but will only get stronger as time goes on." | |
| The president was speaking after around an hour of talks which were dominated by the economy, with both men agreeing that improvements were needed to the regulation of the global banking system. | The president was speaking after around an hour of talks which were dominated by the economy, with both men agreeing that improvements were needed to the regulation of the global banking system. |
| Today's meeting cannot be the equivalent of the Camp David 'Colgate moment' at which Bush & Blair bonded Nick Robinson's blog | |
| Mr Obama warned that countries should not "project inwards" by encouraging protectionism during the economic crisis. | Mr Obama warned that countries should not "project inwards" by encouraging protectionism during the economic crisis. |
| Mr Brown said the two countries were pursuing a "common interest" in a "global new deal" aimed at cleaning up the banking system | Mr Brown said the two countries were pursuing a "common interest" in a "global new deal" aimed at cleaning up the banking system |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the press conference had a "very different feel" to those more informal between predecessors Tony Blair and George W Bush. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the press conference had a "very different feel" to those more informal between predecessors Tony Blair and George W Bush. |
| Mr Brown, who will host a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) developed and emerging economies in London on 2 April, said earlier that there was a "general understanding" of the need to be far better at dealing with cross-border supervision and flows of capital. | Mr Brown, who will host a summit of the Group of 20 (G20) developed and emerging economies in London on 2 April, said earlier that there was a "general understanding" of the need to be far better at dealing with cross-border supervision and flows of capital. |
| Downing Street dismissed suggestions that the visit had been downgraded by President Obama after it emerged there would not be a formal joint press conference. | Downing Street dismissed suggestions that the visit had been downgraded by President Obama after it emerged there would not be a formal joint press conference. |
| Working lunch | Working lunch |
| The two leaders also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | |
| Mr Brown's address to Congress is expected to compare the battle against the global recession to the fight against European fascism in the 1940s. | Mr Brown's address to Congress is expected to compare the battle against the global recession to the fight against European fascism in the 1940s. |
| Former assistant secretary of state James Rubin said one of the current fears was protectionism. | Former assistant secretary of state James Rubin said one of the current fears was protectionism. |
| He said: "Everyone who's an international economist is worried about this sort of thing. But everyone who's a politician knows that people are going to have to take care of their own in a time of crisis. | He said: "Everyone who's an international economist is worried about this sort of thing. But everyone who's a politician knows that people are going to have to take care of their own in a time of crisis. |
| "That doesn't mean there isn't going to be plenty of trade and plenty of international economic cooperation. But when you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents." | "That doesn't mean there isn't going to be plenty of trade and plenty of international economic cooperation. But when you have a crisis like this people have a tendency to look first to their own constituents." |
| 'Increased prosperity' | 'Increased prosperity' |
| The EU and Canada have warned that a "buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package could promote protectionism. | The EU and Canada have warned that a "buy American" clause in the US economic recovery package could promote protectionism. |
| It seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill - but has included a pledge to respect international trade obligations. | It seeks to ensure that only US iron, steel and manufactured goods are used in construction work funded by the bill - but has included a pledge to respect international trade obligations. |
| Former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said: "The single biggest issue is the issue of protectionism, maintaining the free trade system which has done so much to increase prosperity over the last 30 to 50 years and the President knows that. The President is unlikely to challenge that. | Former UK foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said: "The single biggest issue is the issue of protectionism, maintaining the free trade system which has done so much to increase prosperity over the last 30 to 50 years and the President knows that. The President is unlikely to challenge that. |
| "But within Congress you have a large number of congressmen who don't have the responsibilities of government, who are under pressure from constituents and they are the people who have to be influenced, if they can be influenced, by Gordon Brown and his address." | "But within Congress you have a large number of congressmen who don't have the responsibilities of government, who are under pressure from constituents and they are the people who have to be influenced, if they can be influenced, by Gordon Brown and his address." |