Kerry to discuss Syria, Middle East on Europe trip

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 5-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss Syria, Egypt and Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in a weekend trip to Europe, the U.S. State Department said Thursday.

Kerry is scheduled to leave on Friday for Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).

He will attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lithuania on Saturday, and is set to discuss issues in the Middle East, including Syria, Egypt, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Later Saturday, Kerry is scheduled to go to Paris to meet senior French government officials, and on Sunday, see representatives of the Arab League.

According to the State Department, he will provide an update on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks during the Sunday meeting, while Syria will also be discussed.

On Monday, Kerry will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in London. The meeting will be the first since Kerry succeeded in convincing the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with Israel in July, after a break of three years due to Israel's settlement construction in2010.

Kerry's trip comes as U.S. President Barack Obama is trying to convince U.S. Congress to authorize a military strike against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians on Aug. 21.

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