Manning for talks with Bush in Washington
By Corey Connelly
The Trinidad
Guardian
Port Spain
Petroleumworldtt.com
04 15 07
PRIME Minister Patrick Manning and other Caricom
leaders are expected to visit Washington in June
to hold talks with United States President George
Bush, Foreign Affairs Minister Arnold Piggott says.
Scheduled for June 19 to 21, the talks, a local
initiative, will focus on several regional initiatives
and is expected to include Foreign Affairs Ministers
of Caricom, he added.
“It is anticipated that Caricom leaders
would meet with the President of the United States
for talks and it is also anticipated that they
will hold talks with members of the Democratic
and Republican Congress,” Piggott said during
yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference
at Whitehall in Port-of-Spain.
He added that the conference, entitled A 2020
Vision, was also expected to include US Secretary
of State Condoleeza Rice and other high-ranking
officials.
On Tuesday, Manning is also expected to attend
an energy summit in Margarita, Venezuela.
“The convening of this inaugural summit
is intended to formulate strategies for a regional
energy policy, development of joint projects such
as the Amazonian gas pipeline and deals with issues
of energy stability with South America and its
neighbours,” Piggott said of the meeting,
which ends on Wednesday.
“It is important for T&T to keep apace
with developments in the region in this sector...So
that participation by T&T is critical as we
seek to play a role in policy formulation.”
In
other developments, Piggott announced a 16-member
US delegation—six of whom are members of
the US Congress—are due to arrive in T&T
tomorrow to discuss energy, HIV/Aids and other
matters.
The delegation is headed by congressman Elliott
Engel, who serves on the energy and commerce committee
of the congress.
Piggott said members were expected to hold talks
with Manning during their two-day stay.
A news conference might also be in the cards for
Monday, he added.
“The special interest of these members of
the delegation would be to pursue T&T/US agenda
in a number of areas, some of which would include
trade-related areas, renewing military co-operation
between T&T and the US—including the
reintroduction of military training and assistance—considering
policy changes for green card holders and technical
assistance,” Piggott said.
The team includes congresswomen Barbara Lee, Maxine
Waters, Yvette Clarke, Barbara Cubin and Sheila
Jackson Lee.
Trinidad
Guardian
Friday 13th April, 2007
Copyright
©2007 Trinidad Guardian. All Rights Reserved.
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