Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal is due to hold talks onSunday with European Union's foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton.
The talks will focus on developments in the region and the role of the EU to support the region's security and stability.
Al Riyadh newspaper on Friday quoted Luigi Narbone, Ambassador of the European Union in Riyadh, as saying that Ashton will meet King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.
"We hope to get a better understanding of the internal reform process in the kingdom and the efforts exerted by custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for encouraging more reforms in Saudi Arabia," the EU ambassador to Saudi Arabia said.
European diplomatic sources in Riyadh told Gulf News that Ashton will discuss with Prince Saud the political crisis in Yemen. The Saudi foreign minister will brief Ashton on the GCC initiative to end unrest in Yemen.
In statements last month, Ashton underlined the importance that the Yemeni government takes necessary measures to protect protesters and guarantee their right to assemble. She noted that the government is responsible for the safety of its people.
She also called on all Yemeni political parties to engage in constructive and transparent dialogue which leads to enhancing the political, economic and social stability in the country.
Observers are expecting Ashton to announce during her visit to Riyadh the EU backing for the GCC initiative on Yemen. The GCC initiative calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down and transfer power to his deputy and the formation of a transitional government representing all Yemenis and prepare the country for national elections.
The sources pointed out that, while in Riyadh, Ashton will also review current developments in Syria, Iran and Libya.
From Riyadh, Ashton will travel to Abu Dhabi where she will attend the GCC-EU foreign ministers meeting scheduled to be held on April 20.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will begin a visit to Saudi Arabia next week, his second tour since taking office at the beginning of March. His first overseas visit was his recent one to Sudan.
Sharaf will head a delegation including the ministers of international cooperation and foreign affairs, finance and industry on a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Dr. Ahmad Al Samman, the Prime Minister's media adviser said in statements that the tour comes within the framework of the Egyptian's government plan to enhance its relations with Arab countries.
He added that the tour's main purpose is to expand economic co-operation and boost trade between Egypt and the Gulf states by working to attract more Arab investments to Egypt.