The White House press office on Friday announced that they are hosting the Prime Minister of Kuwait, the President of Lithuania, and the Prime Minister of Italy this month and in October. In a statement released by White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, U.S. President George W. Bush is set to host Kuwaiti Prime Minister, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah, to the White House on September 19, 2008. Bush “looks forward to discussing with the Prime Minister the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Kuwait, our joint efforts in the War on Terror, and a range of regional issues,” Perino said. Bush will host Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus to the White House on September 29, 2008. “President Adamkus has been one of Europe's most principled leaders in defending the sovereignty and independence of all of Europe's nations, including through policies to strengthen Europe's energy security. Under his leadership, Lithuania has supported democracies in Georgia and Ukraine, and worked to advance freedom in neighboring Belarus,” Perino said in a statement. As a U.S.-ally in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), “Lithuania contributes significantly to Alliance efforts to support the security and development of Afghanistan, and has been a partner in helping Iraqis secure their freedom. The President looks forward to exchanging views with President Adamkus on these and other global challenges,” the statement said. Bush will also host Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on an Official Visit to the White House on Columbus Day, October 13, 2008. Touting the strength of U.S.-Italian relations, Perino said “The President and the Prime Minister share a strong commitment to the values of freedom, and Italy is making vital contributions to democracy and stability in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Lebanon, and elsewhere around the world.” “The visit will celebrate the warm U.S.-Italian friendship and the deep cultural and historic ties our two countries share. Bush and Berlusconi “will discuss a range of strategic issues and deepen transatlantic cooperation on the shared challenges we face,” Perino said in a statement. The visit comes after Bush and his wife, First Lady Laura Bush visited Italy in June 2008.
