Obama hosts Spanish king after decision to skip EU meeting in Madrid
By APWednesday, February 17, 2010
Obama hosts Spanish king at lunch
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama hosted lunch for Spanish King Juan Carlos I on Wednesday, but the White House did not say if they discussed Obama’s decision to skip a Madrid summit with European Union leaders.
Obama raised European hackles with the announcement Feb. 1 that he would forgo the annual summit meeting. It was seen in Spain as a diplomatic slap. Obama’s decision became public only two days before Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrived for a two-day Washington visit. Zapatero holds the EU rotating presidency and was to host the Madrid summit.
A brief White House statement said Obama “highlighted his interest in strengthening our partnership with Spain.”
Tags: Barack Obama, Europe, Geography, Madrid, North America, Spain, United States, Washington, Western Europe
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