January 28, 2007	Sunday	Muharram 08, 1428

BERLIN, Jan 27: European Union president Germany and Jordan called on Saturday on the international community to work together to revive the stalled peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said next week’s meeting of the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators – the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States – offered an opportunity to make progress.

She told reporters after meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah that she believed both sides in the decades-old conflict were making an effort and that Arab countries were also supportive.

“We must try as hard as we can and we agreed that there could be a possibility now if all international efforts are put together,” said Merkel at a joint press briefing with Abdullah.

The quartet is due to meet in Washington on Feb 2.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, senior Israeli and Palestinian officials called for direct talks in the hope of reaching a peace deal within about two years.

“We need to take advantage of this opportunity to push Middle East peace,” said King Abdullah, adding that there was consensus on the consequences of not getting peace.

Germany, which took over the EU presidency on Jan 1, has made it a priority to try to push forward the Middle East peace process and Merkel heads to the region next week.

“I will take with me the idea that we have a window of opportunity in which we could solve the political problems or at least take some steps in solving them,” said Merkel.

Merkel and Abdullah expressed their support for the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Lebanon after clashes in Beirut.

“The Chancellor and I are both very concerned about external interference on Lebanese sovereignty and call upon others to respect Lebanese democratic processes and institutions,” said King Abdullah.—Reuters