Gandhi to vist US on an invitation from the Clinton Foundation

August 20, 2005

Gandhi to meet Bush, Clinton in US:-

New Delhi | August 20, 2005 9:25:06 AM IST

Congress president Gandhi will visit the US early next month

during which she is likely to meet President W. Bush and

former president Bill Clinton.

According to reliable sources, Bush was keen to meet Gandhi, who is

seen as a key political player in India. She is chairperson of the

ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition whose government

is headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The sources said Gandhi is visiting the US in the first week of

September on an invitation from the Clinton Foundation, which among

other things assists governments in developing countries to fight

HIV/AIDS.

Gandhi also has been actively involved in the anti-HIV/AIDS

campaign. Her first visit abroad after she led her Congress party to

power last May was to Bangkok to attend the World AIDS Conference.

Initially, she was expected to visit New York in the middle of

September to address a 'global initiative', a gathering of world

leaders Sep 10-17 organised by the Clinton Foundation.

The meeting is expected to be attended also by Israeli Vice Premier

Shimon Peres and media baron Rupert Murdoch, who would be aiding

Clinton's effort to find " solutions to some of the world's most

pressing challenges " .

There were suggestions for Gandhi to extend her visit to attend the

UN General Assembly session and address it. But Gandhi apparently

turned down the plea as she did not want to " steal the limelight "

from Manmohan Singh who is scheduled to address the General Assembly

in the third week of September, the sources said.

Gandhi is likely to be accompanied by her son Rahul, an MP, in New

York.

Gandhi, whose detailed programme is still being chalked out,

is expected to meet members of the Indian Overseas Congress and

other Indian American groups during her visit. (IANS)

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