CAIRO -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks Monday with European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana about efforts to promote the internationally-backed roadmap for peace in the Middle East.

Solana's talks with Mubarak, witnessed by an AFP photographer, were to be followed by talks between the Egyptian president and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who arrived here from Tel Aviv.

Solana's spokesman has said that a meeting between the EU envoy and Powell could not be ruled out.

In a statement on Egyptian television, Solana called for the implementation of the roadmap and urged both Israel and the Palestinians to "seize the chance" for peace.

He said all sides had to work hard toward that goal.

Solana met here late Sunday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher and was also to hold talks with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa.

Egypt is Solana's first stop on a May 11-16 tour that will also take him to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Lebanon.