Welcoming ceremony of Lukashenko in Muscat: Palace Square, horse guards, gun volleys
Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said welcomed President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko in Muscat, BelTA reports
The Palace Square was chosen as the ceremony venue, as is traditional.
It is noteworthy that, although the format of the Belarusian leader’s visit is working, the ceremony almost completely corresponded to the status of an official or state visit – being accompanied by the guard of honour, the performance of the anthem, and gun volleys. All these and other nuances are a sign of special respect from the host party.
The talks of the leaders have been scheduled in an expanded format, with the participation of members of the delegations. A one-on-one meeting is planned as well.
The Al Alam Palace (translated from Arabic as the Palace of the Flag) is the official residence of the Sultan of Oman in Muscat. It was built more than 200 years ago as the residence of the ruling Al Said dynasty. The modern appearance of the Al Alam Palace became the result of a large-scale reconstruction: it was carried out in 1972 upon the initiative of Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The palace building has a bright and elegant blue-and-gold-coloured façade. The unique combination of traditional Omani architectural motifs with elements of modern aesthetics makes it one of Muscat's most famous landmarks. The residence is located in a picturesque harbour in the historical centre of Old Muscat between the fortresses of Jalali and Mirani.
The Al Alam Palace is used exclusively for official events, state receptions and meetings with high-ranking foreign delegations.
