KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait: Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo left for Syria on Friday on a two-week tour of the Middle East.

He is expected in Damascus on March 21 and will meet with Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad. Jagdeo returns to the region after an official visit to Libya in January 2009.

According to the Guyanese President, “The purpose of the trip is not just to pursue national interests, since it would be a good source of investment, but it is really to pursue better relationships.”

Jagdeo is expected to attend the Arab-South American Summit on March 30 in Doha. During his two-week tour of the region he will travel to Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Kuwait, Qatar and possibly the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Guyana, a former British colony and South America’s only English-speaking country has a vibrant Muslim community of about 12 percent. It is also a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and has forged strong ties with the Middle East since its independence from Britain in 1966.

Guyana’s relationship with the Middle East has been established outside of the rubric of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Strong ties with the Arab world are motivated by Guyana’s own national interest. Many members of CARICOM look to Guyana to provide the necessary leadership in fostering its Middle East relations with an eye to obtaining benefits for the region.

Guyana began nurturing its relations with the Middle East since the 1950’s under the leadership of former President Cheddi Jagan and had strong ties to Gamal Abdul Nasser and Hafeez Al Assad. Dr Jagan visited Syria and Egypt several times.