Ashton looking forward to meet Gulf leaders

Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, will next week make a tour of a number of Gulf countries. She will hold high levels talks with senior government ministers in each country, according to a press statement released by her office Saturday. "I am very much looking forward to meeting the leaders of these extremely important partner countries for the European Union," said Ashton. "We will have the chance to discuss a range of important issues which affect our bilateral relationships and the EU's links with the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as pressing regional questions, such as the crisis in Syria, the Middle East Peace Process and the recent agreement between the E3+3 and Iran on the Iranian nuclear programme," she said. On Tuesday, the EU High Representative will hold a press conference with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah in Abu Dhabi and on Tuesday evening a press conference with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Sabah, added the statement.