Secretary of State Vance's Trip to the Middle East Announcement of the Secretary's Trip.

The President today announced that he has asked Secretary of State Cyrus Vance to visit certain Middle East countries in mid-February to convey to their leaders the importance the President attaches to making significant progress this year toward a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

The President believes it is essential to have a firsthand understanding of the views of Middle Eastern leaders at the earliest possible time as the administration considers how it can most effectively contribute to the peace process.

Secretary Vance will also emphasize during his trip the value the President places on maintaining good 'bilateral relations with the states of the Middle East.

Secretary Vance will visit Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.