Kronberg: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier defended Berlin's dialogue with Damascus after meeting his Syrian counterpart, saying Syria had the potential to aid or wreck Middle East peace.

In a speech to the Bertelsmann Foundation think-tank after talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem yesterday, Steinmeier said, I don't do this because I think Syria is already taking a constructive role in the peace process. It is not. But the hoped-for success (in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts) will only be secured sustainably if we can reduce the number of states that can destroy success."

However, Steinmeier said, "Containment and isolation won't succeed, I am convinced, and I am not sure that some Arab states would permit it."

He also criticised France's offer to supply civilian nuclear technology to Arab states that are concerned by Iran's nuclear programme. "I don't think the French policy of offering civil nuclearisation to the whole region makes sense," Steinmeier said, arguing that the necessary conditions of a high degree of political stability and technological capability were not met.

 

Source : UNI