Thursday, February 19, 2009

President Obama arrives in Ottawa

OTTAWA: U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Ottawa Thursday ahead of a day of meetings, including talks with Prime Minister Stephen Harper about trade and environmental issues.

Obama emerged from Air Force One, which touched down at Ottawa International Airport's Hangar 11 shortly before 10:30 a.m. ET., and was greeted on the tarmac by Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.

As Obama and Jean walked into the airport, Obama smiled and waved at reporters.

The president, on his first foreign trip since taking power, and Jean are holding a brief meeting in the Billy Bishop Room at the airport before he heads to Parliament Hill.

On the Hill, thousands of well-wishers have gathered, hoping to get a glimpse of the new president.

Inside, Obama will have a 10-minute one-on-one meeting with Harper followed by a "restricted" meeting with senior staff and then a working lunch with officials -- featuring a main course of apple wood smoked Plains Bison.

Obama and Harper are expected to discuss trade issues and start the framework for negotiations for a North American environmental and energy accord.

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