Brussels, 05/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - Hans-Gert Pöttering, the president of the European Parliament, will be making an official visit to Lebanon and Syria from 6-12 August.
In view of this visit, Hans-Gert Pöttering, who is also president of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA - Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean) made the following declaration, “I hope that this visit reaffirms the political commitment of the European Parliament to peace in the Middle East and the conclusion of a comprehensive peace agreement involving all the countries of the region. The European Union is a solid partner and can play pay a role of mediator. In this regard, the current launch of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, particularly through the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean in mid-July in Paris, should be considered as a propitious occasion”.
In Beirut (6-9 August), the president of the European Parliament will meet Michel Sleiman, president of Republic, Nabih Berri, president of the National Assembly, Fouad Siniora, prime minister, Faouzi Salloukh, foreign affairs minister, as well as other ministers. He will also be meeting with representatives from the government and parliamentary opposition. Mr Pöttering will meet the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, as well as representatives from Lebanese civil society. A visit to the South of Lebanon is also planned in order to meet the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on the ground.
In Damascus (9-12 August), Hans-Gert Pöttering will have political meetings with Bachar Hafez Al Assad, president of the Republic, as well as with Farouk Al Charaa, vice president, Abdallah Dardari, vice prime minister and Walid Muhi Eddine Mouallem, minister of foreign affairs. He will also visit the Syrian Popular Assembly where he will meet its members and president, Mahmoud Aref Al Abrach. After visiting Maaloula, Hans-Gert Pöttering will meet Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, the country's Grand Mufti, as well as other religious dignitaries.
This will be Mr Pöttering's second visit to the Middle East. In May 2007, he visited Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan. After this visit, Hans-Gert Pöttering will be in Latvia from 19-21 August 2008. (O.J./trans/rh)