Statement by the Press Secretary: President and Mrs. Bush to Host NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Crawford

President and Mrs. Bush will host NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Mrs. de Hoop Scheffer-van Oorschot at their ranch in Crawford, Texas on May 20-21, 2007. The President looks forward to discussing with the Secretary General NATO's crucial role in advancing freedom and security. De Hoop Scheffer's leadership and vision have been crucial to strengthening the transatlantic alliance. The President and the Secretary General will discuss a wide range of issues on NATO's strategic agenda, including NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo, NATO's ongoing transformation to meet the security challenges of the 21st century, and the role of NATO enlargement in advancing freedom and ensuring security for all of Europe.