Press Release: Commission and Presidency to visit Middle East July 27/28

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will travel to the Middle East for talks with leading figures in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, 27-28 July 2006. They will be accompanied by EU Special Representative Marc Otte. The trip is a first opportunity for the EU to discuss with all sides the outcome of the international conference in Rome. On 27 July they expect to see Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. They will visit Gaza to witness the conditions on the ground for Palestinian civilians and to see the Temporary International Mechanism developed by the EU in action. On 28 July the Minister and the Commissioner will go to Beirut to meet Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri and representatives of civil society. The visit will focus on the growing humanitarian crisis in both Lebanon and Gaza, and underline the need to move towards an end to hostilities.