US embassy cable - 05AMMAN4594

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