SECRETARY CLINTON: It’s a great pleasure for me to welcome the Prime Minister here to the State Department. Prime Minister Golding and I have a lot to discuss, both on our bilateral relationship but also regionally. And Jamaica has played a very important role in the region in helping CARICOM and helping to organize efforts on behalf of Haiti, and I greatly appreciate this opportunity to discuss in depth the range of issues that concern us both.
PRIME MINISTER GOLDING: Thank you very much. For me it is an equally great pleasure to be here in Washington with the opportunity to have discussions with the Secretary of State. Jamaica and the United States have for a long time had very close relations we have built over the years. We continue to strengthen those relations. There are many issues that we have in common, and during the discussion that we will have today we intend to pursue that cooperation to make it even stronger, not just for the sake of Jamaica but for the sake of the wider Caribbean, which is, in fact, the United States’ third border, and we are proud to continue to work in close association with the United States to strengthen and improve the conditions of that border. I really am grateful for this opportunity.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much, sir.
PRIME MINISTER GOLDING: Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Again, a warm welcome.
PRIME MINISTER GOLDING: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.
