Posted on 12/11/2006 5:56:35 AM PST by Michael81Dus
BERLIN, Dec 10 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday positive signals coming from Israel should be used to make progress towards securing peace in the Middle East.
Speaking after a meeting with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and two days before a visit from Israel's Premier Ehud Olmert, Merkel reiterated she would use Germany's six-month presidency of the EU next year to renew peace efforts.
"We want to use these hopeful signals which are being sent by the Israeli government to make progress," Merkel told a joint news conference with Mubarak. "We need results in order to halt the violence in the Palestinian territories."
Merkel and Mubarak agreed on the need to renew the so-called quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia -- who launched the Middle East "road map" in 2003 which was intended to revive talks on a long-term peace.
In an interview with Der Spiegel on Sunday, Olmert reiterated he was prepared to withdraw from the majority of settlements in the occupied West Bank. He also praised Merkel.
"Merkel is fantastic," Olmert said. "She appears to me to be one of the most serious and the most responsible leaders that Europe has had in years," the magazine quoted him as saying.
Merkel also criticised Syria, however, for failing to recognise the Lebanese government. Last week Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a trip to the region to urge Syria, seen as a key to Middle East peace, not to interfere in Lebanon.
"The result of the foreign minister's visit to Syria was unfortunately not such that I can see that Syria wants at present to make a contribution in terms of constructive steps," Merkel said. "That is very regrettable."
"It would be very pleasing and also for example very easy if the Syrian government would diplomatically support the recognition of the Lebanese government," she said.
Leading Western powers have sought to isolate Damascus over its alleged role in last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut. Syria's critics also accuse it of killing anti-Syria cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.
The Syria government denies involvement in the killings.
Yet there are still too many who blame Israel for defending itself! Yet there are still too many who view the Palestinians as victims! The news is, that Reuters publishes pro-Israel comments. ;-)
The damn-d Lebanon war has brought nothing but bad PR for Israel. If only they had had the guts to knock Hizbollah out. Lebanon should become a Christian country, maybe the Sunnis can behave. But the Shiites definitely pose a real threat to Israel and Lebanon.
Too bad that the countries who have a say in this conflict (Iran and Syria) are caught in the 12th century.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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another weak minority-gov't person says What?
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Bush, on the way out
Canada-guy, minority gov't
German lady, minority gov't
Blair, headed to Clintonville
Italy, Pizza gov't version 473.5.4.9, since 2000.0.0
France, election is when?
Merkel surely isn´t a weak person. When she´s united with her coalition partner then she has a strong position, with more than 70% of votes in the parliament. In addition, she very well could win the next election, so she´s a person to deal with in the future, while President Bush is a lame duck (before you all flame me: consider the mid-term election results!).
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