BRUSSELS, March 13 (NNN-KUNA) — EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton embarks Sunday on her first visit to the Middle East since she assumed her post last November.

During her five-day tour she will visit Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories including Gaza to meet with political leaders and civil society representatives.

“The Middle East is a major foreign policy priority for the EU and I am pleased that I can visit the region so early on in my tenure,” said Ashton in press statements this afternoon.

Ashton who is also the Vice President of the European Commission said her visit is a sign of the importance the “EU attaches to broad and deep relations with our Mediterranean partners and the Arab World.

“I also want to look at the contribution the EU is making in the region and can make in the future. I also feel there is a sense of urgency at the moment and a need to make progress on the Arab-Israeli conflict,” said the EU foreign policy chief.

She stressed that the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict is a key European interest and the EU is determined to step-up its efforts to facilitate the peace process.

“I am going to the region with a clear message to encourage all actors to engage in talks that lead us to a comprehensive regional peace. This is in everyone’s interest as it will deliver peace, security and prosperity to the whole region,” she said.

“I am hopeful to visit Gaza, the EU is a major contributor of aid and I want to see for myself how we are spending our money and what kind of impact it has on the ground,” she added. — NNN-KUNA

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