His Majesty receives German President

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik received Dr Frank Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, at the start of his official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

An official reception ceremony was held for President Steinmeier. Upon the arrival of the motorcade of the German President at Al Alam Palace, a squadron of cavalry lined the two sides of the road to the Palace gate, welcoming the guest.

Then, the band of Royal Guard of Oman played a tune of welcome, to the accompaniment of trumpets, as the motorcade entered the inner courtyard of Al Alam Palace.

After that His Majesty accompanied the German President to the Dais of Honour where the national anthem of Germany was played, while artillery fired a 21-gun salute for the guest.

Then His Majesty shook hands with members of the official delegation accompanying the President of Germany, wishing them a pleasant stay.

President Steinmeier in turn shook hands with members of the Royal Family, Chairmen of the State Council and Shura Council, Ministers and Commanders of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and the Royal Oman Police.

His Majesty and his guest then proceeded to the hall where they took coffee.

During the visit, the German President is accompanied by his wife, Elke Büdenbender, and an official delegation that includes: Dr Tobias Lindner, Minister of State at the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dirk Lölke, Germany's Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman and Wolfgang Silbermann, Director General of Foreign Affairs in the Office of the Federal President, as well as a number of German officials.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.