Obama and Norwegian PM discuss Libya and economy

21.10.11

Obama and Norwegian PM discuss Libya and economy: WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday talked with visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg about a number of issues including Libya and the global economy.

Meeting with reporters after their Oval Office talks, Obama thanked Stoltenberg for Norway's "important contribution" to the NATO-led mission in Libya, saying that "Norway punched above its weight."

Norway sent six F-16 fighters to join the mission during the first few months.

Obama stressed how relieved he was after learning that former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had been caught but died of wounds later on Thursday. In response to a question, Obama said that he was "very proud" of the NATO operation in Libya, and that "We did exactly what we said we were going to do."

He said that as close NATO allies and partners, the U.S. and Norway cooperate in a "wide variety of endeavors" all around the world, noting that he and Stoltenberg discussed the situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process, the global economy, the Arctic, global health, climate change, Sudan, cooperation at the United Nations and support for the new democracies in North Africa.