UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: German Chancellor Angela Merkel continues visit to the Middle East

German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw the support of the EU and Germany behind embattled Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora during a speech in Abu Dhabi. "We are very interested in Lebanon having the reasonable development of a sovereign state, in which the people live without fear. Prime Minister Siniora is being supported by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany as much as it is possible," Merkel said in the middle of a four-day trip to the Middle East. Merkel also outlined her strategy for dealing with Iran, ruling out the use of force. "Regarding Iran, I hope we can resolve the conflicts with peaceful means. And therefore I think the military option is no option relating to Iran," Merkel said. Earlier, in Saudi Arabia, Merkel met the General-Secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Abdul Rahman, to discuss next steps in the trade talks between the EU and Gulf states. The GCC comprises Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Merkel presides over Germany's EU presidency, which began last month and runs until the end of June. Talks between the group and the EU began in 1990 but were slowed by the GCC not agreeing until 1999 to move towards forming a customs union, and a new EU negotiating strategy adopted in 2001 to include the services sector in the talks. Merkel also said that Germany was looking to widen its pool of energy suppliers and secure deals with reliable partners. Germany has stressed the need for a more independent energy policy for the European Union after its reliance on Russia for crude oil was made apparent by supply shortages following disputes over pricing between Moscow and transit nations. The EU is the GCC's top trade partner, while the Gulf group ranks number six for the 27-nation EU. On Tuesday (January 6) Merkel heads to Dubai and Kuwait.

ITN Source | February 6, 2007

Tags:. .military. .middle. .forming. .reasonable. .peaceful