Brussels, Safar 01, 1432, Jan 05, 2011, SPA - Progress in the Middle East peace talks is urgently needed because there is "no alternative" to a negotiated deal, the EU foreign policy chief said as she prepared to visit the region Wednesday. "Urgent progress is now needed towards a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace, and the EU will continue to support all efforts towards that goal," Catherine Ashton said in a statement issued last night. "There is no alternative to a negotiated solution." On Wednesday and Thursday, she is due to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and to push for Israel to reopen access to the Gaza Strip. "We want to see the state of Israel and a sovereign and viable state of Palestine living side by side in peace and security," Ashton was quoted as saying by the German Press Agency "DPA". --SPA 11:12 LOCAL TIME 08:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/852648