Spain to start new tour for Middle East peace

Spokesman for the Spanish government announced on Wednesday that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will start on Friday his first tour of the Middle East, covering Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian self-rule territories.

The spokesman told reporters that Aznar will express Spain's readiness to carry out a role in reviving the Middle East peace process. The spokesman added that Spain holds Israel responsible for the deadlocked peace process and will call upon the Israeli government to recognize the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination.

The spokesman elaborated that Aznar in the context of the EU stand will tell leaders in the countries he visits that the EU supports any initiative, wherever it comes from, in reviving the Middle East peace process.