Washington: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is in Washington to attend a memorial service for late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, will have a 'closed press' meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday.
“The two leaders will discuss aspects of the U.S.-Pakistan strategic partnership, including our mutual commitment to economic reform, support for democracy and good governance, and joint efforts to combat terrorism,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in Washington.
“The meeting is closed press, and we’re going to do some still stuff out of it,” he added.
When asked why it would be a closed press meeting, Gibbs replied: “That’s just the way we’ve decided to do it. He’s in town for Holbrooke’s service, and we thought it was a good opportunity to add a meeting with President Zardari.”
Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley stated during a press briefing that the two presidents would discuss 'the state of the relationship'.
When asked whether there were ‘any specific issues that the U.S. might want to bring up during the meeting with Zardari, Crowley said: “Well, this is a vitally important partnership that we’re building with Pakistan. The Vice President [Joe Biden] was just there and had the opportunity to talk to President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani. The President will have a chance to talk with President Zardari about the state of the relationship, what’s happening on the ground, and we look forward to the meeting tomorrow.”
Responding to another question whether US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have any separate meetings with President Zardari, Crowley replied: “Actually, we had contemplated that, but now… a meeting that we had been talking to the Pakistanis about will be folded into the meeting that President Zardari will have with the President. Secretary Clinton will join that meeting.”