The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, is to visit the middle-east next week where he will meet with both Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, and Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat.
The Minister will also travel to Egypt, Syria and the Lebanon as part of a five-day trip beginning on Sunday.
Mr Cowen’s itinerary will be finalised over the next 48 hours. He is travelling to Brussels tomorrow and will fly to Israel the following day.
