Readout of the President's Call With UK Prime Minister Brown

The President and Prime Minister Brown had a productive call earlier today on several issues on our shared strategic agenda. The two leaders discussed preparations for the upcoming G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, including the issues of growth and jobs. They discussed ways to reform international institutions to provide key international players a greater role. They also discussed their shared commitment to disrupting, dismantling, and defeating Al Qaeda and their extremist allies in Afghanistan, and their resolve to work together to implement our agreed strategy, which includes building Afghan institutions to help Afghans bear more of the responsibility. The President expressed his deep appreciation for the sacrifices of the British military and people in this difficult summer period, noting that the American people also honor this sacrifice.

The President expressed his disappointment over the Scottish Executive's decision to release convicted Pan Am 103 Bomber al-Megrahi back to Libya. They also discussed preparations for the December meeting on climate change in Copenhagen, and ways to make steady progress to ensure that both developed and developing countries fulfill their responsibility to combat climate change.