ANKARA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Javier Solana, high representative of the European Union (EU) for the common foreign and security policy, said on Thursday that EU hoped that truce would be secured in Gaza as quickly as possible.

    Solana made the comment at a press conference in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

    Solana, who arrived in the capital late Wednesday, said that his visit to Turkey aimed to underline the importance of Turkey in solution of dramatic crisis in Gaza and to discuss what could be done for a truce there.

    Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on behalf of the EU, made some initiatives in regard to Gaza. Some countries and Israel welcomed these initiatives, according to Solana.

    Solana also said that his talks in Ankara were fruitful, EU and Turkish government were on the same frequency in regard to the matter.

    Meanwhile, the EU official expressed his thankfulness to Turkish government for its stance on developments in Gaza.

    On the question that whether EU had an emergency plan if a truce would be declared, Solana answered that they were ready to extend any kind of assistance to the region if truce would be secured there.

    During his stay here on Thursday, Solana was also received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.