Portugal: Meetings With President Eanes and Government Officials White House Statement.

President Carter met today with President Eanes at Belem Palace on matters of mutual interest, including an overview of Portugal's experiences since the revolution and it successful progress to democracy. The two leaders also discussed ways and means of strengthening the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

President Carter also met with Prime Minister Sa Carneiro at Ajuda Palace for discussions of a number of international issues, including Portugal's role in the Western Alliance. They gave special attention to the strategic challenge posed to Western security interests by the crisis in Afghanistan and to the long-term challenge to global stability posed by conditions in the Third World.