The European Union's foreign policy chief is to meet top leaders from across the Middle East this week, travelling to Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon and Jordan after visiting Tunisia, officials announced.
Catherine Ashton was accused earlier this year of being slow to respond to the pro-democracy demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt. But she is now moving into high gear with a five-nation tour of the volatile region, DPA reported.
Ashton landed in Tunisia on Monday for a day of talks with Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, other ministers and a number of leaders of non-governmental groups, a statement issued in Brussels read.
"In particular, I look forward to meeting with the representatives of civil society, human-rights defenders, women's representatives and students. They will give me the best picture of the challenges and opportunities they face," Ashton said.
On Tuesday, she is to travel to Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the president and premier of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad.
They are to discuss the recent meeting of the international "Quartet" of major powers on the Middle East, the statement read.
Ashton is also set to visit Lebanon, where she is scheduled to hold talks with President Michel Suleiman, and Jordan, where she is due to meet King Abdullah.
She has repeatedly said she would also like to visit Egypt, but her requests have so far been denied. However, "during her visit to the region, she will stay in close contact with the Egyptian authorities so this trip can take place as soon as possible," the statement read.
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