WORLD> Europe
|
WORLD> Europe
|
|
Bush to meet with Brown on last day of EU tour
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-16 14:17 LONDON -- US President George W. Bush is set to meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his predecessor Tony Blair, and visit Belfast for talks on the future of Northern Ireland on Monday, the final day of his farewell tour of Europe.
The meetings come a day after he met with Queen Elizabeth II for tea in Windsor Castle, and later with Brown for dinner in Downing Street, as protesters scuffled with riot police nearby. Bush is set to meet with Blair for breakfast Monday morning, the latter's spokesman told AFP, when they will focus on the Middle East peace process, and then hold formal talks with Brown. His meeting with Brown is likely to focus on Iran and Iraq, with top officials from both countries dismissing a newspaper report that Bush would warn the prime minister against a premature withdrawal from Iraq. The pair will also discuss climate change, the state of the global economy and ongoing efforts to clinch an international trade liberalisation deal. Bush will then set off to Belfast, and along with Brown and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen, will meet with Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness. According to Cowen's office in Dublin, the meetings there will focus on the recent progress in the British province, review outstanding political issues, and analyse how best to build on the recent international investment conference there. |
