Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier visit to the Middle East – German Foreign Ministry press release/Non-UN document

Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier visited the Middle East, 12 to 14 February 2006

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier has visited Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Turkey from Sunday, 12 February to Tuesday, 14 February.

As well as focusing on the respective bilateral relations, the talks centred on the situation in the Middle East, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Recent events in connection with the publication of the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed have also played a role.

On Monday (13 February) Foreign Minister Steinmeier met Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and his counterpart Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem. He also visited the Yad Vashem Memorial and spoke with survivors of the Holocaust.

As well as focusing on bilateral issues, the political talks centred on current developments in the region following the elections in the Palestinian Territories and before the elections in Israel.

After his meeting with Ehud Olmert, Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier emphasized that Germany’s solidarity with Israel was “irrevocable”. During a visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial he wrote the words, “All future is based on responsibility” in the guestbook.

On Tuesday (14.02.) Foreign Minister Steinmeier met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa in Ramallah. He reiterated the conditions which Germany and the EU require a new Palestinian Government to observe – the recognition of Israel’s right to exist, the renunciation of violence, the laying down of arms and the acceptance of the arrangements made with Israel so far. On the next stage of his Middle East trip Steinmeier visited Jordan and Turkey.

From Ramallah Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier crossed the Allenby Bridge into Jordan, where he held talks with King Abdullah, Prime Minister Marouf Al-Bakhit and Foreign Minister Abdelelah Al-Khatib.
Following the meeting with his Jordanian counterpart, Mr Steinmeier acknowledged the placatory role Jordan had played in connection with the conflict following the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed. Earlier in Ramallah he had emphasized the importance of finding a way "back to dialogue between the cultures".

At the end of his trip Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier met his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, in Ankara for talks which focused on the current situation in the Middle East.