Danish PM says discussed climate change with Obama 0

COPENHAGEN, Dec. 4, 2008 (AFP) -- Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen discussed climate change and continuing cooperation in Afghanistan in a 10-minute telephone conversation, he said in a statement issued Thursday.

"I expressed my respect for Barack Obama's strong personal dedication to the climate question and to energy security," Rasmussen said. "I emphasised my wish to have a good and close cooperation with the United States in the run-up to the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009," he added.

Denmark's centre-right coalition government has been one of the George W. Bush administration's staunchest allies. Rasmussen said he had told the incoming president he was "looking forward to continuing the good Danish-American relationship."

He added: "I expressed my expectation of a tight cooperation with Barack Obama in addressing the big challenges we face, for instance when it comes to the fight against terror and for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

"It is important that Europe stands with the United States and other like-minded (countries) in dealing with the big economic, political and security challenges," he said.

Rasmussen's conversation with Obama on Wednesday lasted around 10 minutes, said his office.

Copyright 2008 -- Agence France-Presse

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