国际英语新闻：EU foreign policy chief to kick off Middle East visit

BRUSSELS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will kick off her Middle East visit over the weekend, aimed to look at the contribution the EU is making in the region and can make in the future.

During her scheduled visit to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories from March 14 to 18, Ashton will meet with political leaders and civil society representatives, and deliver a keynote speech in Egypt.

"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," Ashton told the press on Friday. "My visit is a sign of the importance the EU attaches to broad and deep relations with our Mediterranean partners and the Arab World."

Ashton said she felt "there is a sense of urgency at the moment " and a need to make progress on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"The resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict is a key European interest and the EU, on the basis of its December 2009 Council Conclusions, is determined to step up its efforts to facilitate the peace process," said Ashton, who is vice president of the European Commission and the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

"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," she said, adding this is in everyone's interest as it will deliver peace, security and prosperity to the whole region.

"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," said the high representative.

After her visit, Ashton will participate in the Quartet Meeting of international mediators in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks held in Moscow on March 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

The Middle East Quartet comprises Russia, the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.