WASHINGTON, 17 October 2007 — US first lady Laura Bush will travel to the Middle East next week to promote one of her signature issues, awareness and treatment of breast cancer, as Washington tries to improve its image in the Arab world. The popular face of the White House will hit the road with the details of her public diplomacy trip announced yesterday.
The White House said Laura would be in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan from Oct. 20-26 and that she will meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Jordan’s King Abdallah.
She will meet cancer patients in the Kingdom on Oct. 20. Laura, who has made a similar trip to Africa recently to spotlight the US-funded programs combating AIDS and malaria in the region, will focus on cancer treatment and screening in the Middle East as she meets with education leaders and leaders of women’s groups.
In the Kingdom, she will launch the US-Saudi Arabia Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research at the King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh and, in Jeddah, she will hold a discussion with breast cancer survivors and advocates.
At a time when President George W. Bush’s approval ratings are lagging, and international opinion of the United States is sagging, the first lady serves as a potentially more welcome ambassador. She will “focus on the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research in Riyadh,” her spokeswoman Sally McDonough told reporters yesterday adding she will “discuss ways to expand its role.”
During her visit to the United Arab Emirates, Laura will visit Pink Majlis in Abu Dhabi, where women are taught how to know about breast cancer and preventive care.
In the UAE, Laura also “will meet with Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, widow of the founder and president of the country, the late Sheikh Zayed,” her office said.
