White House officials say U.S. President Barack Obama will emphasize
his "personal commitment" to improving U.S. relations with Muslims
around the world in a long-awaited speech in Egypt on Thursday.
White
House spokesman Robert Gibbs briefed reporters Friday on the
president's upcoming trip to the Middle East and Europe. He said Mr.
Obama will deliver a speech Thursday, June 4, at Cairo University,
which will be co-hosted by Al-Azhar University, one of the world's
leading Islamic institutions of higher education.
Gibbs says the
president will focus on his desire to engage with Muslim communities
"based upon mutual interests and mutual respect."
Other White
House officials say Mr. Obama will also address "tough issues,"
including violent extremism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While in Egypt, Mr. Obama also will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and visit a mosque.
Deputy
National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough
told reporters Friday that Egypt is a long-time strategic ally of the
U.S. He called Egypt a key country in the Arab and Muslim world, with
a burgeoning younger population.
President Obama will begin his trip with a stop in Saudi Arabia June 3, where he will meet with King Abdullah.
After
leaving the Middle East, Mr. Obama travels to Germany June 5. He will
meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and visit the former Nazi
concentration camp at Buchenwald.
The president will conclude
his trip (June 6) with a visit to France to commemorate the anniversary
of the World War II landing at Normandy with veterans from the U.S. and
other key allied countries.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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