Gonzi to attend EU-Bush summit

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is next month expected to attend a special European Union-United States summit in Brussels being held to coincide with President George W. Bush's visit to the EU.

Sources close to the Luxemburg EU presidency told The Times that invitation letters had been sent to all 25 EU heads of government asking them to attend the special EU-US summit.

The sources said all EU leaders will be accompanied by their respective foreign ministers.

The meeting will be held in the afternoon of February 22 and EU leaders will hold discussions with the US President on how to strengthen ties between the two blocs.

Contacted by The Times, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Brussels said President Bush is expected to begin his consultations in Brussels meeting with Nato heads of government. She said the President will also meet with the EU presidency, the European Council, and the European Commission President at the EU's Brussels offices and with Belgian government officials.

The spokesman said President Bush has stressed his desire to reach out to friends and allies in the EU and Nato in order to promote development and progress, to defeat terrorism and to encourage freedom and democracy as alternatives to tyranny and terror.

"After his re-election, the President announced his desire to travel to Europe soon after the inauguration to deepen transatlantic cooperation, building upon shared values."

She said the visit follows through on the President's determination that the United States and Europe work together on the many common challenges both face.

In this European trip, the first overseas mission after his inauguration, President Bush is expected to dine with French President Jacques Chirac and also plans to stop in Germany, another opponent of the US-led war in Iraq. He is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, also an Iraqi war critic, during a stop in Slovakia.