ZAGREB TO HOST SUMMIT OF FIRST LADIES OF EAST, CENTRAL EUROPE

ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - The first ladies of Central and East European countries will meet in Zagreb for a regional summit promoting the importance of early breast cancer diagnosis, to be held on 8-9 May. #L# The summit will be opened by Milka Mesic, the wife of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who chairs the national committee on public education about early breast cancer diagnosis, established in late 2000. Of the 19 invited first ladies, 12 have confirmed attendance so far, including the first ladies of Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Letters of support were sent by Cherie Blaire, the wife of the British prime minister, Rosalynn Carter, the wife of the former US president, and Janet Howard, the wife of the Australian president, who have been invited to the summit as observers. (hina) rml