MEP to visit the Middle East

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Oct 2003

London LibDem MEP and member of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs committee Baroness Sarah Ludford is to visit the Middle East including Israel next week. Travelling with Sarah Ludford will be European Parliamentary colleague Baroness Emma Nicholson MEP and Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel Parliamentary Officer Gavin Stollar.

The visit, organised by MedBridge Strategy Center, will include meetings with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, King Abdullah of Jordan and Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala), Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority.

Ahead of the trip Sarah commented:

"This is an excellent opportunity to speak directly to the parties who are key to ensuring a secure future for Israelis and Palestinians."

"If we are to achieve peace in the region then the 'Quartet' (EU, US, UN and Russia) must remain focused. But the onus has to lie principally on the Israelis and Palestinians themselves to identify a joint vested interest in the elimination of terrorism and the construction of two viable states which can concentrate on delivering security and prosperity for all their people."