ABU DHABI (AFP) — US First Lady Laura Bush arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday at the start of a Middle East tour to highlight the fight against breast cancer.
Wearing a pale blue trouser suit, Bush was greeted on her arrival at the airport by UAE Economy Minister Lubna al-Qassimi, the first woman minister in the conservative desert state.
In addition to the United Arab Emirates, Bush is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Kuwait on Thursday, and Jordan on Friday.
She will visit several cancer treatment and screening centres and launch new cancer awareness activities in the region, her spokeswoman Sally McDonough said on Saturday.
She is also scheduled to meet the widow of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, the late UAE president, and Saudi monarch King Abdullah as well as Jordan's King Abdullah II.
The UAE and Jordan were the first countries in the region to join the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research, and Saudi Arabia is due to formally join the effort during Bush's trip.
Laura Bush has a personal history with breast cancer, as both her mother and grandmother had the illness, her chief of staff Anita McBride said.
Breast cancer remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States and in the Middle East, it is often detected at a late stage, which is why prevention efforts are being encouraged, McBride said.
While previously circumspect on international issues, Laura Bush -- the former teacher and librarian -- has traded in her subdued reputation and become increasingly engaged in the diplomatic arena.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
