United States President George W Bush has praised Prime Minister Helen Clark for her leadership in the Pacific and promised help in regional trouble spots.
Speaking after a formal 30-minute White House meeting with Miss Clark today, President Bush said their talks had been constructive and covered a wide range of issues.
"We talked about the South Pacific, and I praised the prime minister on her leadership in these difficult issues," President Bush said.
He told reporters he understood that countries in the region needed New Zealand's leadership, with US and Australian assistance.
The US would help "in any way we can," he said.
It was Miss Clark's second formal meeting with President Bush since she became prime minister, although they have met nine times. on other occasions.
The talks in the Oval Office marked the development of a closer relationship between New Zealand and the US, and it was only the third time a New Zealand prime minister has visited the White House in 24 years.
President Bush described Miss Clark as "a straightforward, honest woman" whom he always enjoyed meeting. He said their talks had covered North Korea and Iran, and just before the meeting Miss Clark announced New Zealand would be contributing to an energy assistance package for North Korea.
President Bush made no mention of the nuclear stand-off and the ban on US troops training with New Zealanders, instead emphasising the co-operation that existed in other areas.
He said he had thanked Miss Clark for New Zealand's commitment to the international force in Afghanistan.
Miss Clark, who had lunch with President Bush in the White House after the meeting, said their talks had been constructive.
Although President Bush did not mention trade when he spoke to reporters, Miss Clark said she had raised the issue of a free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the US. Miss Clark said before she left Wellington that she was not expecting significant progress on an FTA, but she has been pushing the issue in her meetings in Washington. Miss Clark said she had indicated to President Bush that New Zealand hoped his fast-track authority to make trade deals, due to expire in mid-year, would be renewed because this was crucial to the success of World Trade Organisation negotiations.
A bilateral FTA would present few difficulties for the US and New Zealand would "be there" at any time.
New Zealand journalists travelling with Miss Clark had hoped to question President Bush after the meeting, but officials said he was occupied with local political difficulties. President Bush is beset with problems, and last night held a tense press conference when he defended the sacking of eight US attorney-generals.
Along with her announcement that New Zealand would help with the energy package for North Korea, Miss Clark said assistance would also be given to a US-led project to combat the smuggling of nuclear material across the Ukranian border with Russia. New Zealand would give $680,000 to help train local officials and provide detection equipment, she said.
No details of New Zealand's help with the North Korean energy package were given. The international community is negotiating to give North Korea the equivalent of a million tonnes of heavy oil in a deal to halt the development of nuclear weapons.
Miss Clark left the White House for the Pentagon, where she was due to meet Secretary of Defence Robert Gates.
Speaking after her lunch with President Bush, Miss Clark said the nuclear issue had been raised but it had not been described as an obstacle in the relationship.
Miss Clark said they also discussed the situation in Iraq, and had focused on that country's future. She said she was interested in attempts that were being made to bring Iraq's neighbours into the discussion, which she considered was important.
Miss Clark said she interpreted President Bush's commitment to helping in the South Pacific as meaning increased aid and diplomatic efforts to spread democracy and stability in the region.
(I actually interpret Bush's offer of 'help' to mean the intention to take over and cock the South Pacific up; much like he's done in the Middle East and much like the US administration has cocked so much up over the decades. No Helen? Don't let him here. His cronies only want the oil!)
