01 May 2003
Bush Discusses Mideast "Roadmap" with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince
(White House Report, May 1: Prayer event, ambassadorial nominations)
(580)
President Bush and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah discussed the
"roadmap" to a Middle East peace settlement in a phone conversation
May 1, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters.
"The president this morning from Air Force One, spoke to Crown Prince
Abdullah about the roadmap and about the importance of working with
the parties for peace in the region," Fleischer said. "The president
will, as he said yesterday, dedicate time and energy to developing the
environment for peace to take root between the Israelis and the
Palestinians."
Bush was on Air Force One flying to San Diego, California from where
he was to fly out to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to meet
with homebound troops, address the nation, and spend the night.
BUSH LEADS NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER EVENT
Prior to beginning his trip to California, President Bush participated
early May 1 in a National Day of Prayer event in the East Room of the
White House and issued a National Day of Prayer Proclamation for 2003.
"Today we recognize the many ways our country has been blessed, and we
acknowledge the source of those blessings," Bush said. "Millions of
Americans seek guidance every day in prayer to the Almighty God. I am
one of them."
"This past month has been another time of testing for America and
another time of intense prayer," Bush said. "Americans have been
praying for the safety of our troops and for the protection of
innocent life in Iraq. Americans prayed that war would not be
necessary and now pray that peace will be just and lasting."
The National Day of Prayer tradition dates back to February 19, 1795,
when President George Washington issued a proclamation for a day of
public thanksgiving. In 1952, President Truman marked the first
official National Day of Prayer. In 1988, President Reagan signed
legislation making the National Day of Prayer the first Thursday in
May.
SIX AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATIONS SENT TO SENATE
The White House has sent the following nominations to the Senate:
Robert W. Fitts, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class
of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Papua New Guinea,
and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of
Vanuatu.
John E. Herbst, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class
of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ukraine.
Tracey Ann Jacobson, a Foreign Service Officer of Class One, to be
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America to Turkmenistan.
Harry K. Thomas, Jr., a career member of the Senior Foreign Service,
Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the United States of America to the People's Republic of
Bangladesh.
William B. Wood, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class
of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of
Colombia.
George A. Krol, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class
of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Republic of Belarus.
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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