THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2009

DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2009

The President will meet with religious leaders in Istanbul tomorrow morning. Following the meeting, he will tour the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque with Prime Minister Erdogan. The Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sofya was formerly a basilica, then a mosque, and now a museum that is considered an embodiment of Byzantine architecture. Completed in 537, it was the world's largest religious monument until 1520.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks and is the national mosque of Turkey. It is located in the heart of old town, facing the Hagia Sophia. The Blue Mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616 in Sultanahmet Square. It is called the Blue Mosque because of the thousands of hand-painted Iznik tiles that adorn its interior.

In the afternoon, the President will hold a town hall with students at the Tophane Cultural Center. The majority of participating students, ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-six, are from universities across the country including international students from Kosovo, Korea and Albania currently studying in Turkey. The remaining students are former participants of US State Department programs, including the Student Leader Program, Fulbright, Youth Exchange Study (YES), Youth Exchange Program (YEP) and the Summer Work & Travel program.

Later in the afternoon, President Obama will depart Istanbul for Washington, DC, returning in the evening. The arrival on the South Lawn is open press.


Tuesday's Out of Town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: CBS
Print: USA Today
Magazine Photo: TIME
Radio: FOX Radio

Tuesday's In town Travel Pool
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Wire Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP
TV Corr & Crew: ABC
Print: CQ
Magazine Photo: Newsweek
Radio: VOA

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

EEST

9:50AM THE PRESIDENT meets with religious leaders
Conrad Hotel
Pool spray at the top

11:10AM THE PRESIDENT and Prime Minister Erdogan tour the Hagia Sophia
Istanbul
Travel Pool Coverage

11:40AM THE PRESIDENT and Prime Minister Erdogan tour the Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
Travel Pool Coverage

12:20PM THE PRESIDE NT holds student town hall
Tophane Cultural Center
Open Press

2:30PM THE PRESIDENT departs Istanbul en route Andrews Air Force Base

EDT

5:30PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Andrews Air Force Base

5:50PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at The White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-Set 5:20PM - Final Gather 5:35PM - North Doors of the Palm Room)


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