BRUSSELS - European Union foreign and security policy head Javier Solana said Friday he is soon to visit the Middle East, taking in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. "We want to tell the Syrians we want them to work with us, particularly on Lebanon," Solana said at the close of the EU summit in Brussels.

French President Jacques Chirac pledged full support for the mission. "I back it without reservation. Europe speaks with one voice," Chirac said.

EU leaders made clear the bloc was determined to reinforce war- torn Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

They also said they were willing to cooperate with a new Palestinian government that accepted Western demands to stop violence, recognize Israel and abide by past peace agreements.

"The EU stands ready to work with a legitimate Palestinian government that adopts a platform reflecting the (Middle East) Quartet principles," EU leaders said in a draft statement, referring to conditions set by the diplomatic group.

The EU said that it encouraged the Middle East diplomatic Quartet - which includes the EU, the United States, Russia and the United Nations - to press ahead with action aimed at nudging Israelis and Palestinians into restarting stalled peace talks.

The EU last week ruled out an early resumption of direct aid to a new Palestinian unity government.

France, Sweden and others have said that a partial restart of assistance should resume once a new national unity government, including the Fatah movement of Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas as well as members of the ruling Hamas militant group, is set up.

Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya last month failed to agree on the formation of a Palestinian government but said discussions would continue.

The EU - like the US - suspended all direct assistance to the Palestinian government in February 2006 following a Hamas victory in parliamentary elections. Hamas is currently classified as a terrorist organization by both Brussels and Washington.

While humanitarian assistance to Palestinians has not been halted, Europeans and Americans argue that development aid will only resume once Hamas recognizes Israel, renounces violence and agrees to abide by past peace agreements.

But diplomats said several EU countries - as well as Russia - believed that the formation of a Palestinian unity government, based on an accord reached in Mecca last month, already signalled Hamas' acceptance of previous peace deals.

EU countries are split between traditionally pro-Palestinian states such as France, Belgium and Spain and strong supporters of Israel such as Germany and the Netherlands.