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O 241520Z FEB 09
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAL EAID EUN SY LE EG IS XF
SUBJECT: Javier Solana to the Middle East; Will Meet S/E Mitchell 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common 
Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), announced at the February 23 
General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting of 
EU-27 Foreign Ministers, that he would travel to the Middle East 
February 24 to 28.  Solana's trip will take him to Syria, Lebanon, 
Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.  Solana is to meet 
with Senator George Mitchell in the region.  This trip precedes 
Solana's participation in the international conference in support of 
the Palestinian economy, for the reconstruction of Gaza, to be held 
in Sharm El-Sheikh on March 2.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  Billed as a bid to help bolster the ceasefire in Gaza, Javier 
Solana's trip will take him first to Syria, February 24-25, where he 
will meet President Bashar Al-Assad, Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah 
Al-Dardari and Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mouallem. 
 
¶3.  In Lebanon, on Wednesday, 25 February, Solana will meet 
President Michel Sleiman, Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, Prime 
Minister Fouad Siniora and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. 
 
¶4.  In Egypt, February 25 and 26, Solana will meet with President 
Hosni Mubarak and Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit. 
 
¶5.  In Israel, on February 26, Solana will meet Prime Minister Ehud 
Olmert, Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been tasked to 
form the new government, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and Defence 
Minister Ehud Barak. 
 
¶6.  In the Palestinian Territories, on February 27 and 28, Mr Solana 
will meet the President of the Palestinian National Authority, 
Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Chief 
Negotiator, Saeb Erekat, and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, 
George Mitchell. The High Representative also plans to travel to 
Gaza, where he will meet the UNRWA General Commissioner, Karen Abu 
Ziyad, the UNRWA Director of Operations, John King, and members of 
the civil society and the banking sectors. 
 
MURRAY