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SV President Costa Gomes of Portugal and Ford with others talking.
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SCU President Costa Gomes talking.
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SV Official, Kiddinger and Ford seated.
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SV Guard standing by car.
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SV PAN Presidents Ford and Costa Gomes out of White House towards car. They shake hands and Gomes enters car, while Ford and Kissinger look on.
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Francisco Costa Gomes of Portugal met United States' President Gerald Ford on Friday (18 October) in Washington D.C.

The two leaders met briefly at the White House and met again the next day when President Costa Gomes also had a working lunch with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

The meetings are crucial for both countries. Portugal is seeking economic assistance while the United States wants the continued use of the strategic Air Force Base on Portugal's mid-Atlantic Azores Islands.

The Portuguese arguments for assistance are mainly based on the problems cause by the loss of their African territories and the economic problems which arose during the energy crisis. The Arab nations imposed a petroleum embargo on Portugal for allowing the United States to re-equip Israel through the Azores during last October's Arab-Israeli war.

During the meeting President Costa Gomes reaffirmed his new Government's desire to remain in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.