Pelosi and Boehner Remarks Before Meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron

WASHINGTON, July 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader John Boehner held a brief press availability this afternoon with British Prime Minister David Cameron prior to their meeting in the Capitol. Below is a transcript of the press availability:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon. It is an honor indeed to welcome the Prime Minister to the Capitol of the United States on his first visit as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

As you know, the United Kingdom and the United States have a very special relationship. Every chance we get, we want to acknowledge that—not only a special relationship, but a deep friendship. We work together on issues that relate to the national security of our countries and of global security, stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, fighting terrorism, and we also work on global economic security. I want to commend the Prime Minister for the work that has been done in the UK on an issue that relates to economic security and that is the issue of climate change. So today, we look forward to hearing his views on these and other subjects.

Particularly, I know Members will want to hear about his views on Afghanistan, and in mentioning that I want to extend the condolences of the House of Representatives to the Prime Minister on the loss of life last week in Afghanistan of his brave soldiers there.

Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the House of Representatives. I know you have had a productive meeting with our President this morning and with Members of the Senate earlier this afternoon. We look forward to, in friendship, and in anticipation of hearing views on some of the subjects I mentioned and others. Welcome to the Capitol, and I am pleased to be joined in welcoming you by our distinguished Republican Leader, Mr. John Boehner. Leader Boehner.

Leader Boehner. Mr. Prime Minister, I, too, want to welcome you to the U.S. Capitol. Our countries have had a very, very long and productive relationship. You are, frankly, our closest friend, and I think that there are a lot of issues that we are going to want to discuss. But clearly, on behalf of the people of the United States, I want to thank you for your country's commitment to the effort in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I know it has not been easy for either of our countries, but this is important for the security of the world long-term. And I really do appreciate it. Welcome.

Prime Minister Cameron. Thank you very much. I thank you very much for making me so welcome on this, my first visit to Washington as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I wanted to make sure that as well as meeting the President, I came up here to actually meet with Congressmen and Senators and to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.

One of the things I most want to say on being here is that I believe the relationship between our two countries is strong and can get even stronger. Of course, there are the ties of history, of language, of culture, the fact that our servicemen and women serve and fight and sadly, sometimes die, on the same battlefields in the defense of freedom and in combating terrorism. But it's also a relationship which is hard-headed, practical, gritty, based on the fact that when it comes to so many issues, we are not just on the same page, but we are on the same line of the same page—whether it is Middle East peace process, whether it is the need to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, whether it is on the future of the environment and the progress that we need to make there. There are so many issues where we need to work together, and this is a great opportunity to come and have some discussions here on Capitol Hill with leading Congressmen and Senators. And thank you for making me so welcome. Thank you very much indeed.

Speaker Pelosi. Thank you.

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House