Premier Ewart Brown is to meet US president George W. Bush - the first time a leader of Bermuda has met the president for 17 years.

The meeting was announced yesterday and will be the centrepiece of the third bilateral visit to Washington, taking place next week.

Because the President will be leaving office relatively soon, Dr. Brown called the meeting "a courtesy visit". He added: "I have not met him, and you don't turn down meeting the President."

With America buckling down for its presidential election in the Fall, neither the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, or the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, will be available for the visit, but US Consul General Gregory Slayton promises that Dr. Brown will be meeting with around ten politicians on each of the trip's three days.

While the meeting schedule is still not iron clad, they expect the trip to be very busy.

"Last year, every time period was full," said Mr. Slayton. "It really is a last minute situation."

The purpose of next week's visit is to further tighten the bond between Bermuda and the United States.

"When I started here, not many people knew much about Bermuda," said Mr. Slayton. "It's been wonderful to see how over the last three years mutual respect has risen."

The Premier said that the meetings would help to promote the Island's objectives, but he said he could not elaborate on what specifically would be discussed.

Dr. Brown also stated that he will be taking a smaller group of people with him this year than in the past, intending to bring only "four or five" people, including the Cabinet Secretary Marc Telemaque, Press Secretary Glenn Jones and an executive aide.

The Premier is scheduled to arrive in Washington June 23 and depart June 25.