President Hosni Mubarak received here Sunday Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) for talks on Middle East developments.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit, European peace envoy to the Middle East Marc Ottee, British Ambassador in Cairo Sir Derek Plumbly and EU Ambassador to Egypt Klaus Ebermann attended the meeting.
The talks focused on the latest developments in the Middle East, especially Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. Abul-Gheit held marathon talks with Solana Saturday.

Solana arrived here Saturday on a two-day visit to Egypt during which he met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

The visit is part of a Middle East tour that includes Lebanon, Bahrain, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

In statements following the meeting, Solana described his talks with the Egyptian President as positive.

He also referred to the talks which he held with the Egyptian foreign minister after his arrival in Cairo.

The talks with the Egyptian President dealt with the Middle East peace process, Solana said, adding that he would complete his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and with the Israeli side Monday.

Solana is due to arrive in Israel to participate in the 10th anniversary of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

The EU representative is to head for Jordan to offer his condolences to King Abdullah II of Jordan on the death of victims of Wednesday's bombings.

He added that his talks with Mubarak focused on the latest developments in Iraq, as well as the situation on the Lebanese-Syrian arena.

Solana further highlighted the role the EU would play in respect of the Rafah checkpoint.

He noted that the talks also tackled the Barcelona summit, due for the end of November.

Solana expressed hope that President Mubarak would attend it.