EU's Solana visits Middle East before key summits

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana went to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Saturday to discuss the latest developments in the region before key conferences on the Middle East peace process. Solana was to hold talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during his three-day visit, his office said. Other high-ranking politicians to meet Solana include Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad.