Germany draws Syria to solve problems

Germany's foreign minister claims that Syria in working toward peace in the Middle East should remain on the agenda.

Photo: Germany draws Syria to solve problems

Germany, which holds the European Union presidency, has sought consistently to draw Syria into solving the region's problems, while also criticizing the country, particularly over its role in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Damascus last December.

Asked whether his efforts to engage Syria had failed, Steinmeier replied: "no, the issue remains on the agenda out of necessity," according to an advance copy of an interview to appear Thursday in the daily Tagesspiegel.

"The latest high-level American visits to Damascus show this too," Steinmeier was quoted as saying. "We need all of Israel's neighbors for lasting security and peace."

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held talks with Syria's president on Wednesday despite White House objections, saying she pressed Bashar Assad over Syrian support for militant groups and passed him a peace message from Israel's prime minister.

When Steinmeier visited in December, he pressed Syria to use its influence to moderate the demands of the Hezbollah militant group, which fought a war with Israel last summer and has sought the resignation of Lebanon's Western-backed government.

Israel criticized that trip, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended it, saying that "unusual steps" are a part of the search for peace in the Middle East.

Syria's information minister and foreign minister said Wednesday that Damascus had played a key role in resolving the standoff over the 15 British sailors held by Iran.