President Clinton meets the Cabinet

Blair and Clinton Stress "Special Relationship" and Europe

Tony Blair welcomed the President to a meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street by saying he hoped that it would "usher in a new time of understanding and cooperation between our two countries, which have such strong bonds of history and heritage".

The Prime Minister said he believed that Mr Clinton appreciated a Britain which was "strong in Europe and strong with the United States" because "the one strength deepens the other".

President Clinton, seated beside the Prime Minister, agreed with Mr Blair's remarks about a strong Britain.

The Clintons welcomed

He also spoke of the need to "create within Europe a continent that is democratic, undivided and at peace for the first time ever. Europe has been periodically at peace but never all democratic and certainly never undivided".

The two leaders also demonstrated the warmth of their personal relationship by paying tribute to each other.

The Prime Minister said, "in particular I wanted to say how absolutely delighted I am on a personal level to welcome you here because we believe that the courage and strength of leadership you have shown in the United States is of enormous benefit not just to your own country, but to the world".

President Clinton responded by saying how much he appreciated the gesture of being invited to address the Cabinet briefly.

Inside Number 10

He said he had "watched with enormous interest the energy and vigour with which you have all taken office and the optimism with which you pursue it."

Mr Clinton, who is being accompanied by his wife Hillary, held private talks with Mr Blair after the Cabinet meeting.

The "Special Relationship" between Britain and the US