JERUSALEM: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni holds talks with German countapart Frank Walter Steinmeier

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met with her German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeier on Sunday (December 3). The two discussed various issues concerning the current situation in the region and reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful solutions. Livni pointed out that Syria would only be part of the international community after abandoning it's support of terrorism. "We believe that Syria takes a very negative role in the region and the message they should get from the international community is a very strong and decisive message saying that if they want to be part in the international community they have to stop their support in terrorism and to take the necessary steps which are needed in order to be part of it", she told reporters during the joint new conference in Jerusalem "I know that this will be a difficult trip for me, personally, and that it only makes sense if you take it to leave behind clear messages. One of these messages, which I made yesterday in Beirut, is that Lebanon must get the opportunity to develope it's own internal ways, which will be possible only without interference from outside. Secondly of course, realting to it's (Syria) inclusion into a greater peace-process in the Middle East, the message must be that Syria has to take a clear stand regarding it's future position and this must be backed by controllable behaviour", added Steinmeier. Steinmeier arrived at the region on Saturday (December 2), and met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza. He is also scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later on Sunday.

ITN Source | December 4, 2006

Tags:. .develope. .support. .issues. .future. .believe