Digest of Other White House Announcements

The following list includes the President’s public schedule and other items of general interest announced by the Office of the Press Secretary and not included elsewhere in this issue.

June 9

In the morning, in Rome, Italy, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush went to Quirinale Palace. He then met with President Giorgio Napolitano of Italy.

Later in the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Vatican City where he met with Pope Benedict XVI. Later, he and Mrs. Bush and members of the U.S. delegation met with the Pope. The President then met with Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone of the Holy See.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to Rome, Italy, where they toured the Basilica of Santa Maria. Later, he went to Chigi Palace where he met with Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy. They then had a working lunch.

Later in the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush went to Villa Taverna where they met with U.S. Embassy staff and their families. Later, he met with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.

June 10

In the morning, the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Tirana, Albania, where, at the Palace of Brigades, they participated in an arrival ceremony with President Alfred Moisiu of Albania. He then met with President Moisiu.

Later in the morning, the President met with Albanian military personnel who served in Iraq. He then went to the Council of Ministers where he met with Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania.

In the afternoon, at the Tirana-Rinas Airport, the President and Mrs. Bush met with U.S. Embassy staff and their families. They then traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, arriving in the evening.

June 11

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he and Mrs. Bush went to Nevsky Square where they participated in an arrival ceremony. Then, in Plenary Hall, he met with President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria.

Later in the morning, the President went to the Council of Ministers where he met with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev of Bulgaria.

In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush went to the American Embassy Sofia and met with U.S. Embassy staff and their families. Later, they returned to Washington, DC, arriving in the evening.

June 12

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President went to the U.S. Capitol where he participated in a Senate Republican Policy Committee lunch.

The President announced his intention to nominate Lisa E. Epifani to be Assistant Secretary of Energy (Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs).

The President announced his intention to nominate Gracia M. Hillman to be a member of the Election Assistance Commission.

The President announced his intention to nominate Gail Dennise Mathieu to be Ambassador to Namibia.

The President announced his intention to nominate Harry K. Thomas, Jr., to be Director General of the Foreign Service and, upon confirmation, appoint him as Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Service at the Department of State.

The President announced his intention to appoint Bonnie McElveen-Hunter to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American National Red Cross.

The President declared a major disaster in Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding on May 5-18.

June 13

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

In the afternoon, the President met with the Congressional Global War on Terror Consultative Group.

The President announced his designation of the following individuals as members of a Presidential delegation to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland, on June 26: Tevi Troy (head of delegation); Victor Henderson Ashe; Cheryl Feldman Halpern; and Michael M. Kaiser.

June 14

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing.

June 15

In the morning, the President had an intelligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Wichita, KS, where, upon arrival, he met with USA Freedom Corps volunteer Alex Robinson.

In the afternoon, at a private residence, the President made remarks at a luncheon for senatorial candidate Pat Roberts. He then traveled to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX.

The White House announced that the President will travel to Montebello, Quebec, Canada, to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico at the North American Leaders’ Summit on August 20-21.