CAIRO – Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will shortly embark on a four -nation Arab tour that is expected to cover Egypt 's political and economic future after the January 25 Revolution as well as efforts to cement ties with the Gulf region, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Thursday. "Premier Sharaf will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar later this month," said Mohamed Qassem, the foreign minister's assistant for Arab affairs. Qassem said that Sharaf will discuss Egypt's post revolution future during the tour that includes four Gulf countries. "The Prime Minister will go to Riyadh, Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi and Doha to consult with the officials on the political and economic future of Egypt and its relations with the Gulf region following the January Revolt," Qassem said, refusing to say when exactly the visit will start. "It could be during the last ten days of April," he said, adding that the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a team of business men and Government officials. "There is a pressing need for cementing ties between Egypt and the Gulf countries at present more than at any time in the past," he said without elaboration.
