A visit that "fits in with the context of intercultural dialogue" and aimed to improve "mutual understanding between the European Union and the Arab world". Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the EU Parliament, explains the goals of his official journey to the Gulf region: from 20th to 23rd December, the German politician will meet the authorities of Oman, the Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. "The key points of the visit are the following he announces -: relations between the Gulf and the EU, political, commercial and energy cooperation, the peace process in the Middle East, regional stability", "religious and tolerance problems". The journey will begin tomorrow with a stop in the Sultanate of Oman, where he will meet Sultan Qabous ben Said as well as the presidents of the Lower and Upper Houses. In the other countries too, Poettering will meet the Heads of Governments as well as the representatives of the Houses. A release explains that "in 2008, the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, president Poettering and the European Parliament have pledged to strengthen intercultural cooperation, not least by promoting dialogue with the Arab and Islamic countries". To do this, the president has already visited Qatar, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.” “
