Berlin - The German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, yesterday called for Europe to play a bigger role in peacemaking in the Middle East as he headed to the region for talks.
The EU sent its foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, there last month to try to encourage a return to talks. "It is the first time that the European Union really plays a political role and we should definitely strengthen this political role," Mr Fischer said. "It is in the own best interests of Europe and in Germany's interest that the peace process makes progress and that the potential for conflict and war is contained."
However, Mr Fischer, who is due to visit Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Jordan over the next five days, said Germany could not take become an independent mediator in the peace process, in part because of its historically close ties with Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, is due in Berlin on Monday for talks with the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, before he moves on to Brussels and Paris.