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| File Photo: Jack Warner with President Obama at the Oval Office |
The Works and Transport Minister, who is the longest serving Vice President of FIFA, is in Zurich to attend crucial Executive Committee meetings, including one on Thursday, which will determine the host nations of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
England is lobbying for the 2018 World cup and the U.S. is seeking to host the premier football event in 2022.
Obama's call to Warner at his hotel in Zurich was a follow-up to a meeting Warner had with the American leader at the White House in 2009. Both men met at the famous Oval Officer to discuss the World Cup. And on Tuesday Obama and Warner talked about the same matter.
Warner described the conversations with both men as "enlightening and informative."
He told JYOTI, "President Obama understands the importance of Sport but more importantly he understands the global appeal of football and all this beautiful game represents.
"In South Africa, one tournament, one game, one World Cup, united the world under one banner of hope; the U.S President can fully appreciate the importance of this tournament.”
Warner added “President Obama commended CONCACAF on all it has achieved under my leadership and I thanked him for his kind sentiments.
"He emphasized the fact that the U.S. is ready to host this World Cup and that his government is fully behind the bid team. He asked for my support in their quest to host the World Cup in 2022.
"It is a request which I will acquiesce to. The CONCACAF family remains united behind its own, the U.S. is our member. Like the principles of our game we cannot turn our back on our family. I will say it again for the 2022 World Cup CONCACAF is behind the USA."
Earlier in the day Warner met with Cameron for about a half hour at the British leader's private suite in Baur au Lac Hotel.
The meeting was planned almost two weeks ago at the request of the British PM.
Both men discussed several issues, including England’s 2018 World Cup Bid and the changing global political climate.
"The British Prime Minister understands the importance and power of football. He reiterated his government’s commitment to the World Cup and spoke extensively about England’s legacy programme," Warner said.
"A World Cup isn’t a one off event. It is an investment in a country and its people. It is an event which must be seen as a catalyst for social transformation in any nation. The power of football to unite the world can never and should never be underestimated," he added.
"Prime Minister Cameron articulated and reaffirmed England’s support to the developing football nations. Over the last decade England has supported not only CONCACAF but all Federations in their development activities and I must commend the PM and the FA for that,” Warner added.
The senior Trinidad and Tobago cabinet minister seized the opportunity to lobby Cameron on a subject that had been raised before by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in London - the Air Passenger Duty.
He told Cameron the Caribbean is feeling the pinch of the Air Passenger Duty and suggested that London revisit the tax.
"As a Member of Parliament in a Caribbean government I feel the pain that that is being felt by my Caribbean brothers and sisters: many of us depend on tourism and the effect of this tax is grave," Warner said.
"I could not allow this opportunity to slip by and not highlight what I see as the great injustice being inflicted upon my Caribbean people. I asked PM Cameron to contact my Prime Minister, Kamla Persad Bissessar and he promised to do so by the end of the day.”
Cameron is the second British Prime Minister to lobby Warner on the English bid's behalf. In November 2009 Warner, his predecessor, Gordon Brown, met Warner in Port of Spain during the Commonwealth Summit. Warner was at the time an opposition MP.
Commenting on his talks Tuesday with the two powerful world leaders, Warner said he is always humbled by these experiences.
"I am a man born in a rural community in South Trinidad and today world leaders are seeking my support for a World Cup bid, the experience is almost surreal.
"Both President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron are very courteous, charming and knowledgeable individuals," he added.
On Wednesday, Warner will meet with the President of the FA, Prince William. He is also expected to meet with Former U.S. President Bill Clinton as well as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin over the next two days.
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