If Javier Solana is just what the press likes to call him, the EU's foreign policy chief and future Foreign Minister, why is Solana, on his visit to the Middle East, meeting with heads of state? He met with King Abdullah II of Jordan, with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

And, the meeting with Sharon was impressive. If you recall, it wasn't that long ago that Sharon would refuse to meet with Solana. Now, not only has Sharon met with Solana, it appears he gave Solana the red-carpet treatment. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported:.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met today (Thursday), 13 January 2005, in his Jerusalem office, with European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the EU Council Javier Solana Read about it here.

After using Solana's full title, the press release goes on to list the other important people who attended this meeting. These were the EU's Special Representative to the Peace Process Marc Otte, Sharon's Special Advisor Dov Weisglass, Sharon's Diplomatic Advisor Shalom Turgeman, Sharon's Military Secretary Maj-Gen. Yoav Galant, Sharon's Foreign Media Advisor Ra'anan Gissin, Sharon's Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for Europe Ran Kuriel and Israeli Ambassador to the EU Oden Aran.

By the way, on this visit Solana also met with newly elected PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.

Friends, this wasn't a routine visit by an ordinary Foreign Minister.

Something big is in the works.

Stay tuned!