WASHINGTON – President Bush (search) will host several foreign leaders at the White House this month, including his first visit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (search) since last fall.
Bush will host former South African President Nelson Mandela (search) next Tuesday; Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazief on Wednesday; and Denmark's prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, on May 20.
Karzai and Bush are scheduled to meet on May 23, for the first time since the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York City last September.
"This will be an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the progress in the global war on terrorism, the achievements of the Afghan people in building democracy, and our ongoing cooperation on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan.
McClellan said the spread of democracy, particularly in the Middle East, will be on the agenda with the prime ministers of Egypt and Denmark. Bush and Mandela will discuss the battle against HIV and AIDS in Africa and Mandela's foundation to improve the development of African children.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox