PORT AU PRINCE, July 27 (BERNAMA-NNN-AGENCIES) – Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe is in London for an official visit to the United Kingdom, the government said in a statement.

During the four-day visit, Lamothe, who is heading Haiti’s Olympics delegation, will also meet Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, British Foreign Minister William Hague, the International Olympics Committee President Jacques Rogge and officials from the International Federation of Football, Prensa Latina reported.

According to news reports, Lamothe, who arrived in London on Wednesday, has expressed his satisfaction over the United Kingdom’s recent decision to open its first diplomatic mission in Haiti since 1996, a move announced by United Kingdom Foreign Secretary William Hague in late June.

The new British Embassy in Haiti will report to the UK’s Ambassador in the Dominican Republic.

Lamothe, who is also foreign minister, said Haiti’s development was related to strengthening its cooperation with other nations.

Lamothe’s first official visit to a European nation was also to invite businessmen to invest in Haiti, Prensa Latina quoted a statement from the government’s press office.

The Prime Minister’s visit follows a visit earlier this week to Washington where he met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and officials from international financial organisations.

At the 2012 London Olympics which begins Friday, Haiti will have for the first time a gallery in the Olympics village to exhibit arts and crafts products.

Haiti first competed at the 1900 Paris Olympics and won its first medal in the same city at the 1924 Games when it took bronze in the team rifle competition.

The country’s only individual medal was a silver won by Silvio Cator in the men’s long jump at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.

Another notable Olympian from Haiti was marathon runner Dieudonne Lamothe, the first from his country to compete in four Olympics.

— BERNAMA-NNN-AGENCIES