Merkel sees increased urgency in resolving Middle East crisis

Middle East News

Jan 15, 2008, 14:09 GMT

Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed the urgency of finding a solution to the Middle East conflict but warned there were no guarantees this could be achieved, in remarks Tuesday to journalists in Berlin. Asked about her response to US President George W Bush's recent initiative to push the Israeli and Palestinian sides into substantive talks, Merkel said there was 'no alternative' to finding a solution. 'The urgency has risen in recent years, rather than declined,' the chancellor said. 'There is no guarantee, but it would be disastrous not to try.' Bush's initiative, made at a conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November, aims at a resolution of the major points of difference between the two parties by the end of this year. Merkel was also asked what Germany would say to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, who is expected to visit Berlin soon. 'The Syrian Foreign Minister will be told we expect Syria to play a constructive role in Lebanon's presidential election,' Merkel said. 'I don't see this sufficiently at the moment and this will be made clear once more with all forcefulness,' she said. Lebanon has been without a president since November, and divisions between the Western-backed ruling majority and the opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, has deepened, raising fears that the country might be heading towards a new civil war. The German Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a visit from Moallem is pending but has not released a date. © 2008 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Merkel sees increased urgency in resolving Middle East crisis

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