THE FIRST LADY'S VISIT TO JORDAN, MAY 20-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 004594

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JO OVIP BUSH LAURA
SUBJECT: THE FIRST LADY'S VISIT TO JORDAN, MAY 20-
21


1.Summary. First Lady Laura Bush's engagements at
the World Economic Forum (WEF) and participation
in civil society events underlined the U.S.
commitment to supporting educational reform and
women's empowerment as the basis for freedom in
the region. Her meetings with a wide range of
Jordanians and other Arabs, from the King and
Queen to students, social activists and a small-
businesswoman who benefited from a USAID micro-
credit loan, emphasized the U.S. support for
reform that benefits all elements of society. At
Mt. Nebo, a monument to Moses and the three
monotheistic religions, she highlighted U.S.
respect for religious beliefs. Mrs. Bush's
engagement in the WEF and her messages were widely
covered in the local, regional and international
news media. End Summary.

2.The WEF Plenary: "Springtime of Hope"

In her plenary speech, Mrs. Bush hailed examples
of women's gains: from the right to vote and run
for office in Kuwait, to the high rate of women's
participation in the Afghan elections - a message
echoed by other WEF speakers and widely reported
in the local and international press. She also
underscored the role of education and literacy in
promoting freedom and stability and announced the
launching of an early reader program, "My Arabic
Library," funded under the Middle East Partnership
Initiative (MEPI). Likewise, the First Lady
stressed U.S. support for educational improvements
in the region, for example through thousands of
new micro-scholarships for high school students to
learn English. She mentioned several Jordanian
women as examples of women's empowerment, and
later met with a woman who lifted her family from
poverty through a USAID-funded loan.


3. Discussion with Arab Youth

Following a bilateral meeting with the King and
Queen, the First Lady participated in a dialogue
with 14 Arab university students, attended by the
King and Queen and moderated by Finance Minister
Bassem Awadallah. The students underlined the
importance of education and equal opportunity
regardless of political or family connections.
They also highlighted the need for
entrepreneurship and women's empowerment as forces
for regional reform. A Palestinian from Bir Zeit
University described the security and economic
obstacles hampering many Palestinian students and
called on the U.S. to help Palestinians reform
their educational and political systems and to
gain their rights. Mrs. Bush reiterated the
President's commitment to two democratic states,
Israeli and Palestinian, living side by side in
peace. She also saluted the student's passion and
idealism, a message she repeated in an interview
with Jordan TV right after the meeting with the
Arab students. An Iraqi student appealed to the
U.S. for help in creating a safe and secure
environment, and complained about U.S. military
raids and arrests on university campuses.


4. Lunch with Women Activists

At a lunch with six women activists, arranged by
the Embassy and moderated by the Charge, Mrs. Bush
explored the conservative attitudes and other
obstacles that are hampering women's empowerment.
As an example, the activists -- who included NGO
heads, a journalist and a judge-- pointed to
conservative attitudes of many of the male and
even the six female members of parliament, who
failed to support legislation to strengthen
women's rights. The author of the Jordan section
in Freedom's House's recent survey said that the
study found that women in the region, including
Jordan, are at a profound disadvantage in
practically every institution in society: the
criminal justice system, the economy, education,
health care, and the media. The education system
is also deficient, according to the activists, and
teachers are not adequately trained to convey
modern messages on gender equality. School
textbooks are an important problem as they provide
the message that the only career path open for
women is in the home. The activists called for
legal reform, more business opportunities, and
professional training as the means of advancing
their goals. They expressed their deep
appreciation for the First Lady's empathy and
support.


5. Visit to the Discovery School

Accompanied by Queen Rania and Education Minister
Khaled Touqan, Mrs. Bush saw examples of USAID and
MEPI-funded education programs being implemented
under the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI). In a
second grade class, the First Lady saw the
children learning math via computer software
developed through the Jordan Education Initiative.
Computer students told Mrs. Bush about distance-
learning programs designed by U.S. software
designers, which enable students and their
teachers to conduct web conferences. Mrs. Bush and
Queen Rania discussed the software's potential to
improve education in rural areas by allowing
students access to better-trained teachers in the
cities. Mrs. Bush and the Queen also participated
in an informal discussion with 14 students from
INJAZ - a junior achievement-style program
sponsored by USAID. In fluent English the
students explained how the program had
strengthened their competitiveness, effective
communication, and determination to succeed.


6. Jordan River Foundation

Concluding her trip, Mrs. Bush visited the
showroom of the Jordan River Foundation, an NGO
founded by Queen Rania, who accompanied the First
Lady. The Execute Director explained the
Foundation's efforts to help women develop small
businesses and to strengthen rural communities as
well as prevent family violence. The First Lady
saw handicrafts and spoke to rural women whom the
Foundation had helped start handicraft businesses.


7. Media Impact

Both the traveling press and the local and
regional media covered Mrs. Bush's visit at the
WEF and Mt. Nebo and in Amman. Initial coverage
in the Jordanian media included stories in all
four Arabic and the English dailies. Sample
Headlines: "Laura Bush affirms America's respect
for religions," (Liberal Arabic Daily Al-Ghad);
"Laura Bush: Finding a solution to the Middle East
Problem is solving the region's most important
issue," (Pro-Government Arabic Daily Ar-Rai); "
Laura Bush: The Middle East is heading towards
reform and change." (Pro-Government Arabic Daily
Ar-Rai).

HALE