Cowen discusses Middle East with Swiss foreign minister

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has held top level talks with his Swiss counterpart in Dublin today.

Minister Cowan says the discussions centred on Switzerland's relations with the European Union and the Middle East.

Mr Cowan will travel to the Israel and Palestine later this week in his role as head of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

He says finding a solution to the Middle East crisis is one of the top priorities of the Irish EU Presidency.