According to AMNA, in statements made by the two leaders afterwards, the U.S. President expressed the view that Greece’s efforts to exit the crisis cannot be focused only on austerity but require growth and creation of new jobs. Obama spoke of the deep friendship existing between the two countries, making special reference to the Greek-American community.

Obama’s comments to the media in the Oval Office regarding the urgent need to tackle unemployment in Greece, which reached 27.6% in May according to figures published yesterday, met with Samaras’ approval. The Greek prime minister nodded as the US president made his point, Kathimerini notes.

According to primeminister.gr, addressing the media after the meeting, US President Barack Obama said:

“Our government owes a great debt to Greece, our form of government. The Greek-American community here are incredible businesspeople and political leaders and community leaders and great friends of mine. And that bond that extends beyond governments but goes to our peoples I think is what makes Greek-American relations so special.

Prime Minister Samaras comes here at a time when I think we’re all aware Greece is going through incredible challenges. And so far, the Prime Minister has taken some very bold and difficult actions to initiate the structural reforms that can help reduce the debt burden that Greece experiences but, even more importantly, can unleash the incredible talents of the Greek people so that they’re effectively competing in this new world economy.

We had an extensive discussion about the challenges that remain, and I’m confident that Prime Minister Samaras is committed to continuing on these structural reforms. What we also agreed to is that in dealing with the challenges that Greece faces, we cannot simply look to austerity as a strategy. It’s important that we have a plan for fiscal consolidation to manage the debt, but it’s also important that growth and jobs are a focus because we know from history that those countries that are growing, those countries where employment is high and people are increasing their productivity and feel as if the economy’s moving forward, those countries have an easier time reducing their debt burdens than countries where people are feeling hopeless.

And I think Prime Minister Samaras is committed to taking the tough actions that are required, but also, understandably, wants to make sure that the Greek people see a light at the end of the tunnel.

And what I expressed to him is that the United States wants to continue to be helpful and supportive in what will be a challenging process. But we’re confident that Greece can succeed. And, you know, the stakes are high for not only Greece but also Europe and the world economy.

We also discussed the strong bilateral military and intelligence cooperation between our two countries. Greece is a NATO ally. They have worked with us in preventing terrorist threats from actually happening. We have partnered on a whole range of issues. They are host for some of our very important military personnel and assets, and we are very grateful to them for that.

And we also had an opportunity to discuss the general environment around the Mediterranean, in the Balkans. As the Prime Minister put it, sometimes it’s a challenging neighborhood. And Greece can play an important stabilizing role and partnership role as we address issues in the Middle East, in North Africa, as we address issues in the Balkans.

You know, there is a great opportunity as we speak for the decades-long conflict and tensions that exist in Cyprus to be resolved.

And I think we’re both encouraged by the messages that have been coming out of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. And we’re going to be, I think, working very closely together to see if we can make progress on those fronts.

So this has been an excellent conversation. You know, we are very proud of the friendship and partnership that we have with the Greek people. We want to be as helpful as we can during this period of challenge, and we’re confident that the Prime Minister recognizes what needs to be done and is going to be working very hard to accomplish it.”

According to the previous source, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said: “…We did have a very good conversation with the President and analysis on different areas.

I first of all want to say that our two peoples and our two countries have been more than allies. Not only did they fight next to each other throughout their history, always for a noble cause, but they cherish and they support the same values, like freedom, democracy and independence. So it’s good to be here.

In terms of the economy, yes, we’ve gone through thick and thin. The sacrifices made by the Greek people are huge, but they’re not going to be in vain because what we now need is development of jobs and growth. Of course, we are going to do what has to be done as far as structural changes are concerned, but our emphasis has to be on growth and on the creation of new jobs, especially for the youth, because as I told the President, in Greece, the unemployment for the youth has reached an incredible number of 60 percent, and total unemployment of 28 percent.

And the Greek people have sacrificed more than a quarter of the GDP only the last four years. So by definition, emphasis is on growth creation.

But the other thing I want to say is that if Greece succeeds – and it will succeed – our success story is going also to be a European success story. And I believe this is very important.

On the other hand, we are trying to do as much as we can to stabilize a very destabilized environment where we live. I believe that the region has many problems. We are going to try and solve as much as we can, establish this cooperation, which I think is important, on the areas that you have described, being always an advocate of international law wherever there are problems around. I believe that the problems have to do with illegal immigration, internal turbulence in various countries and even, unfortunately, the problem of terrorism.

And I think that there is a lot of synergies that we can have together in order to try and solve, as much as we can, those problems, including, as you said, the problem of Cyprus, which, after the new proposals of the Greek President, opens up a window of opportunity as long as we always, as I said, abide by the international laws and the decisions of the United Nations.

I would also like to say that I told the President that we have found huge energy resources in our great region. Cyprus, Israel and Greece can realign those resources in order to be able to satisfy the European demand, especially for natural gas.

And last but not least, I told the President that we will try to do as much as we can during the Greek Presidency in the first semester of next year with the help of the Italian Presidency that will follow in order to be able and conclude the trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which I think is very important, because as you know, Mr. President, Europe and the U.S. together, in this trade, account, as you’ve said before, more than 50 percent of the world GDP.

And therefore, it’s important, especially for Europe, to liberalize that potential and create new jobs, because I think jobs for everyone is the number one priority, especially to our youth, because everything we’re doing has to do with your younger generation…”

Government sources see the meeting between Samaras and Obama as a vote of confidence from the US in Greece’s premier at a time when his coalition is under considerable pressure at home. A White House official told Kathimerini that the US government believes the Samaras government “is working very hard in challenging conditions.”

According to a White House announcement, Samaras and Obama will discuss American support for the government’s economic reform efforts, trade negotiations, Cyprus, defence cooperation, counterterrorism and security issues in Syria and north Africa.

The last Greek prime minister to visit the White House was George Papandreou, who met with Obama in March 2010, enet.gr notes.

In a statement, the Quartet members – the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States – welcomed the announcement by US Secretary of State John Kerry that the talks between the two sides resumed in Washington yesterday.

The two lead negotiators at the US-brokered talks were Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.

“The Quartet commends both President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu for taking this courageous decision in the interest of their peoples,” the statement said, adding that the group is determined to lend its effective support to the efforts of the parties and their shared commitment to achieve a negotiated two-State solution within the agreed timeframe of nine months.

Further to the statement, the Quartet reiterated its calls on all parties to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermine trust.

“The Quartet expresses its appreciation for the efforts of President Obama and Secretary Kerry in helping the parties reach agreement to resume negotiations,” the statement said, also commending the Arab League for its constructive role in support of renewed negotiations, including its reaffirmation of the Arab Peace Initiative.

The Quartet also recognized many others in the international community for their important contributions, and expressed hope that such efforts will continue.

“While noting that much hard work lies ahead, the Quartet expresses its hope that renewed negotiations will be substantive and continuous and set a clear path towards a two-State solution, the end of conflict, and lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” the diplomatic envoys said, expressing the intention to meet soon to discuss next steps.

The new HDI figures, launched today in Mexico City by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), combines measures of life expectancy, literacy, school enrollment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. This year 187 countries and territories were measured.

Norway retained its top position from last year, ahead of Australia and the US, while the Netherlands, Germany, New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and Japan round out the top 10, in that order.

However, when the HDI is adjusted for internal inequalities in health, education and income, the standings of some countries fall significantly. The US falls from 3 to 16 and the Republic of Korea descends from 12 to 28. By contrast, Sweden rises from the seventh to the fourth spot.

“National averages hide large variation in human experiences, and wide disparities remain within countries of both the North and the South,” the report says.

The report, entitled The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World, emphasizes the unprecedented growth of developing countries, which is propelling millions out of poverty and reshaping the global system.

According to the report, leading economies in the South such as China, India and Brazil will be the main drivers of economic growth and societal change for the first time in centuries. This growth, however, is not limited to these three countries, and the report spotlights more than 40 other countries that have made greater human development gains in recent decades than what was predicted.

Opposition to US involvement in Syria crosses party lines. Majorities of Republicans and Democrats say the US does not have a responsibility to get involved, and reject airstrikes or the shipment of arms to anti-government forces. Fully 62% oppose bombing the Syrian military and 63% are against sending arms and military supplies to those fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Current views about possible US involvement in Syria are similar to opinions about the prospect of US military action in Libya last year, shortly before the U.S. and its allies launched air strikes in support of anti-government rebels.

A year ago, 63% said the US did not have a responsibility to do something about fighting in Libya; a nearly identical percentage (64%) now says the US does not have a responsibility to act in Syria. In the current survey, 68% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats say the US does not have a responsibility in this area.

Last year, prior to the allied military mission in Libya, 69% opposed arming anti-government rebels and 77% opposed bombing Libyan air defenses.

After the allies launched air strikes against Libya last year, there was modest public support for the military operation; 47% said the airstrikes were the right decision while 36% said they were the wrong decision. In September, even after the rebels took control of Tripoli and Gadhafi went into hiding, fewer than half (44%) said that the airstrikes were the right decision.