Saudi Arabia - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived Monday in Saudi Arabia, the second leg of a Middle East tour that will also take him to Qatar and Syria.

Solana is expected to meet Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal during the day.

Topics on Solana's agenda include relations between the EU and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the latest developments of the Middle East peace process, and Tehran's nuclear file, an EU statement said.

Solana's five-day tour started on Sunday in the United Arab Emirates, where he met UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al- Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed and Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed.

"The EU and GCC can more enhance their relations. The signing of the free trade agreement between the two bodies is the next important move," Solana told reporters during his visit to UAE, the Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA) reported on Sunday.

Solana added that in a world that was getting smaller each day, the Gulf was closer to Europe than anytime in the last 50 years.

Solana will be traveling to Qatar on Tuesday where he will meet Qatari Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa and Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem.

The last leg in Solana's visit will take him to Damascus on Wednesday. He is due to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Vice President Faruk al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.

In addition to the original agenda, Solana is also expected to discuss discuss Syria's relations with both Lebanon and Iran. (dpa)