US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced on Thursday that she will start her trip to the Middle East and Europe on Friday.

"I'm making my third trip to the Middle East and my fourth to Europe since taking office. And it's going to be a time that's a good time to go to the Middle East because we and our allies have accomplished a lot over the last several months," Rice said at a briefing at the State Department.

Rice will visit Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and then on to Brussels and London during the trip.

"Obviously, the primary goal for going to Israel and to the Palestinian territories at this time is to talk with the parties about their preparations for the very important and historic disengagement from the Gaza that is about to take place," she said.

As to Europe, Rice said there has been a renewed consensus with the European partners on issues such as cooperation in Iraq.

While in Brussels, Rice will represent the United States at an international conference on Iraq.

Rice's visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories comes just days before a second summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon slated for June 21.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2005)