Obama, Romney to have lunch at White HouseNovember 28, 2012 - 22:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama is to have lunch at the White House on Thursday, Nov 29, with defeated Republican election rival Mitt Romney, officials have confirmed, according to BBC News. The face-to-face will be their first meeting since Obama overcame Romney in the Nov 6 election. On election night Obama pledged to meet the former Massachusetts governor for talks on how to "move this country forward". The pair sparred in a bitter campaign and are said to have little rapport. Over the course of three presidential debates, Obama and Romney interrupted each other frequently and sniped aggressively over policy and principle. However, they are now to meet in the private dining room at the White House, and the press will not be permitted to cover the lunch, the White House said on Wednesday. The meeting comes as Obama and the Democrats negotiate with congressional Republicans over the impending "fiscal cliff" - a combination of tax rises and spending cuts set to occur on 1 January. The measures were partly put in place within a 2011 deal to curb the yawning U.S. budget deficit, but also include the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans. During the campaign, Romney called for sharp spending and tax cuts to fix the deficit. Obama insists the wealthy should pay more in taxes. Romney has dropped out of sight since the election, and analysts say he has little influence on congressional Republicans. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |