By NNN-KUNA,
Brussels : European Union (EU) High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana will embark on a Mideast tour that will include some GCC countries and Syria starting next Sunday, EU announced on Friday.
The five-day tour would take Solana to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, in addition to Syria, a statement by the EU said, adding that during the tour, Solana would discuss GCC-EU relations and latest developments in the Mideast region, including the staled peace process, Iran’s nuclear program, as well as issues of common concern.
The statement noted that Solana would also discuss Syrian-EU relations, in addition Damascus’s relations with Beirut and Tehran.
Solana’s first leg would be in Abu Dhabi, where he would meet UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed and Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed during his two-day visit.
Solana would then head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in a two-day visit, during which he would meet King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.
In Doha, Solana would meet Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa and Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem.
Solana’s last leg, Damascus, would see his meeting with President Bashar Al-Assad, Vice President Farouq Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Walid Al-Muallem, the statement concluded.