Gordon Brown Pledges To Renew Ties To Washington

PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown headed to the United States last month for a four-day visit with an optimistic message – claiming that coordinated efforts to shore up the world economy can reinforce ties between Europe and Washington that were frayed by the Iraq war.

Despite a gloomy financial outlook and domestic complaints over his response to the global credit crunch, Brown, visiting with his wife Sarah, said he believes that Britain and America can enjoy a new decade of growth.

The British leader, who was in the US for the second time since replacing Tony Blair last June, was seeking to rekindle ties with Washington.

He offered praise for all three prospective presidential candidates ahead of his visit, but specifically endorsed US Senator Hillary Clinton’s plans on the economy.

After a frosty first meeting with US President George W Bush in July, Brown said he hoped he could help strengthen US and Europe ties, aiming to lead work on tackling spiralling food and fuel prices, reform global institutions and combat climate change.

CLOSER

“I feel I can bring Europe and America closer together for the future,” Brown said, in an interview with CBS News. “That will be to the advantage of all of us, to deal with economic problems, climate change and help make for a more peaceful world in the future. I see huge opportunities in the next few years for Europe and America to work more closely together.”

Brown’s stiff formality during talks last year with Bush at Camp David led some to question his desire to work closely with the current president.

The men held White House talks, and a Rose Garden news conference, with the British leader eager to underline his enthusiasm for the US.

“I’m very pro-American, and I’ve always been so,” Brown told CBS. “Ours is a very special relationship. I feel that America and Britain can achieve so much in the next few years.”

Brown praised McCain and Obama in his CBS News interview, but acknowledged he is a longtime ally of Clinton, saying she has made strong arguments on how to deal with the economic downturn.

It had been feared the Democratic contenders, due to a debate in Philadelphia, would fail to make the scheduled meetings. But Obama flew from the debate to Washington to see Brown.
The Prime Minister also attended a session at the Union Nations with new York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as well as a round of talks with Wall Street officials.

Brown had strong words on the Zimbabwe situation and issued his support for those in the African Union and SADC who are working to ensure the will of the Zimbabwean people is upheld. We will do everything we can to encourage these efforts. It is also time for the UN, in support of the AU and SADC, to do more to help.

No one thinks having seen results at polling stations that President Mugabe has won this election. A stolen election is not a democratic election at all. So let a single clear message go out from here in New York that we are – and will be – vigilant for democratic rights; that we stand solidly behind democracy and human rights for Zimbabwe; and that we stand ready to support Zimbabweans build a better future.

OPTIMISTIC

But Brown said he is optimistic about the long-term financial prospects for both Britain and the US.

“We’ll continue to lead the way, if we have confidence in our ability to create the next set of inventions, the new innovations of the future,” Brown said. “I’m positive about the future. The world economy will grow a lot in the next 10 years, and America and Britain can have a very big lion’s share of that new wealth.”

In talks with Bush, the British leader pledged not to immediately withdraw hundreds of troops from southern Iraq until local security forces show progress in driving out militias.

Brown said a plan to reduce British troop numbers from about 4,000 to 2,500 would remain on hold. The troop drawdown, which had been due to begin within weeks, was delayed following a recent spike in violence in the oil-rich southern city of Basra.