Blair to meet Bush
The Prime Minister flies to Washington today for talks with the newly re-elected Republican president, George Bush.
Talks are likely to cover the Iraq war, the “road map” for peace in the Middle East, the four British terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, EU-US relations and global warming.
The Middle East peace process will also play a big part in the proceedings following the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat this morning.
Speaking after Mr Bush’s victory last week, Tony Blair said he would be pressing his US counterpart to make the Middle East a key priority.
Peace in the Middle East was “the single most pressing political challenge in our world,” he said.
Mr Blair said in a “fractured, divided and uncertain” world, it was in the national interest that British leaders “protect and strengthen the bond between our two countries”.
He also urged European leaders to forge closer friendships with the US despite lingering disagreements over the Iraq war.
Mr Blair is under pressure to convince the US to sign up to the Kyoto agreement on climate change now that Russia has fallen behind the plan.
He will have dinner with the president this evening, with talks and lunch set for Friday.
The pair will hold a joint press conference later.
