Bush, PM to discuss terrorism during their meeting

Washington, Sept 16 (PTI) Terrorism will be high on the
agenda when Indian Premier Manmohan Singh meets President
George Bush later this month, the U.S. has said coming out
with a strong condemnation of the serial blasts that rocked
New Delhi over the weekend.

"We were distressed to see the terrorist attacks against
innocent civilians in India this weekend. We obviously stand
with the Indians in trying to fight against terrorism and
extremists, and we would help them in any way that we can to
fight back against them," White House Press Secretary Dana
Perino said.

The Prime Minister is to visit the United Nations to
attend the General Assembly meeting and will meet Bush at the
White House on September 25.

Asked whether President Bush will discuss the issue of
terrorism with Singh, Perino replied in the affirmative.

"Absolutely", she said, adding, "... I know he (Bush) and
the prime minister will talk about it when he's here".

During their meeting, the two leaders may sign the
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal if the U.S. Congress approves the
agreement by then.

The senior White House official also said she believed
that the latest developments on the global economy will be
discussed at the U.N. with world leaders, including India.

"I think there is no doubt that the way our financial
system works, that everything is much more globalised and
dependent. Which is why Secretary Paulson has been talking
with his counterparts so frequently in the past several
months," Perino said.

"I'm sure that the economy is going to be a topic at the
U.N.G.A. meeting, which is going to take place next week. It
was a topic at the G-8 meeting, and the G-7 ministers continue
to talk about it as well," Perino said.