Press Interpreter

01/30/06 -- Canada-USA Relations -- Bush and Martin talked together

Retiring Prime Minister Paul Martin received on Thursday a phone call from President George W. Bush.

A spokesperson from the Whitehouse declared that Mr. Bush had spoken with the Prime Minister "to tell him that he had appreciated the work that had been accomplished together and to wish him good luck".

A spokesperson for Mr. Martin told the media that the conversation had been about the mad cow and the softwood lumber disputes.

On Wednesday, the White House, by way of another spokesperson, had denied that the relations between Mr. Bush and Mr. Martin have been "cold", despite a few irritants, while reassuring that both men have had a "really good work relation".

Canada-USA relations have been hurt during the election campaign which led to the Jan. 23rd elections, lost by the Paul Martin's Liberal Party.

The White House didn't appreciate, amongst other things, the former Prime Minister's critics aimed against the Bush Administration's environmental policies.

Mr. Martin also had a phone conversation with Mexico's President Vicente Fox.

Mr. Martin and Mr. Fox talked about Trade and border issues.

[Full article]

By SRC [Société Radio-Canada]

[Radio-Canada is Canada's public radio and television network for french speakers, which are mostly located in the Quebec Province. It is the french equivalent of the CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.]

--Translated By Tommy Pilon

Go to original article:

http://www.src.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2006/01/26/005-bush-martin-rb.shtml