Zapatero speaks to Obama about Madrid Summit

A Spokesperson from the White House stated yesterday that President Obama and the Spanish Prime Minister met briefly after the National Prayer Breakfast that they both attended in Washington. Zapatero, who attended the meeting as the special guest, spoke to the President about his decision not to attend the EU-USA summit, due to be held in Madrid in May.

President Obama affirmed his wish to ‘continue developing the good relations with Spain’ which he described as ‘a country with which we share so many common interests’.

The White House went on to list some of those common interests as being the conflict in Afghanistan, the fight against global terrorism, climate change and the world economy. Obama also spoke of Spain in his speech to the National Prayer Breakfast, mentioning the work of Spanish rescue and aid workers in Haiti.

It was noted that Obama made an effort to play down the effects of his decision not to attend the summit, a decision made due to the President wishing to focus his attentions on domestic issues.