Mr Obama says he wants America to re-engage with the Middle East
US President Barack Obama is heading to the Middle East on a visit aimed at increasing US engagement with the Islamic world.
Mr Obama travels first to Saudi Arabia and then to Egypt, where he will make a keynote speech on ties with the region.
He says he wants to open dialogue with Muslims and overcome misapprehensions on both sides. He also wants to revive Middle East peace negotiations.
It is his first Middle East visit since taking office.
Barack Obama's goal is to improve perceptions of the US and to push for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, says BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus.
In the process he wants to make other US strategic goals in the region - like stability in Iraq and the containment of Iran - easier to achieve.
OBAMA'S TOUR
3 June: Saudi Arabia - talks with King Abdullah on Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations
4 June: Egypt - talks with President Hosni Mubarak, keynote speech at Cairo university
5 June: Germany - meets Chancellor Angela Merkel, visits to Dresden and to Buchenwald concentration camp
6 June: France - meets President Nicolas Sarkozy, attends D-Day events in Normandy
To do this he needs Arab partners and this trip takes in two key nations - Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
bbc
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Why not syria, lebanon, Iraq as well ? are they not part of the middle east ??
ReplyDeletethe story should title , Obamas visit to jordan, egypt and saudi arabis.
The middle east has way more countries being overlooked even though the article says Obama embarks on mid-east mission.
What about Iran?
There is much to be done in regards to the middle east issues. Obama alone can't fix them all.
ReplyDelete