Media Advisory

10 June 2004

Governor-General visits Kuwait, Jordan, Germany and Greece

The Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright will travel to the Middle East and Europe later this week after accepting invitations for official state visits to Kuwait, Jordan, Germany and Greece. The travel by the Governor-General to these countries will support New Zealand's foreign policy objectives and national interests and will enable high-level dialogue on regional developments of major importance to New Zealand.

In Kuwait, Dame Silvia will meet with Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah and Prime Minister Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah. The programme will also include calls on the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, as well as a visit to the Kuwait Scientific Centre and cultural and historical sites in Kuwait.

The Jordan leg of the trip will see meetings with King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, and senior members of Jordan's political executive. She will visit Jordan University and meet with women leaders, and is scheduled to address a meeting of woman students.

In Germany, Dame Silvia will meet President Johannes Rau, who had visited New Zealand in 2001 and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. She will visit the Jewish Museum in Berlin. Dame Silvia will also visit the cities of Heidelberg, Hamburg, and Munich will include calls on the respective Mayors, visits to various commercial and cultural sites, and attendance at a New Zealand Tourism seminar.

Dame Silvia's final destination is Greece. She is returning the visit last year of President Constantinos Stephanopolous, and will call on both the President and the Prime Minister. Dame Silvia will visit the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Crete and the New Zealand War Memorial at Galatas.

During the absence of the Governor-General, the Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias will act as Administrator of Government.

ENDS

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