Date:19/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/19/stories/2005071918990100.htm

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"Manmohan committed to peace"

WASHINGTON: U.S. President George Bush on Monday lavished praise on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, describing him as the "leader of one of the greatest democracies and a man committed to peace and liberty."

The comment came at a joint press interaction with Dr. Singh after their extensive talks at the Oval Office in the White House. The President and First Lady Laura Bush warmly received Dr. Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, at the South Lawn of the White House before ushering them in.

"The Prime Minister of the great people of India" and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would solve the problem (of Kashmir) together, he said to a question on the U.S. stand on the LoC in Kashmir. Mr. Bush accepted Dr. Singh's invitation to visit India. Dr. Singh said: "We are confident that the results of the understandings reached between us today will be fully evident by then." — UNI