By IRNA
Berlin : The United States and Lebanon launched a protest at the chancellery over Thursday’s meeting between German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem, the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported without citing sources.
US and Lebanese officials reportedly said that the German-Syrian talks at the foreign ministry were inappropriate as long as Damascus does not officially recognize Lebanon.
According to the paper, the chancellery supports the US and Lebanese stance on the Steinmeier and al-Moallem talks.
There have been repeated news reports in recent days about deep divisions between Chancellor Angela Merkel and her foreign minister over Berlin’s rapprochement process with Damascus.
There are also mounting foreign policy tensions between Merkel and Steinmeier over China, Russia and Iran.
Berlin’s ties with Beijing have been in shambles after Merkel held talks with the Dalai Lama at the chancellery last September, Steinmeier was quoted saying in the press last month.
Angela Merkel reaffirmed here Tuesday that there has been no change on her position on the Dalai Lama following China’s strong criticism over her meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader at the chancellery.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Merkel said, “Everything has been said regarding this issue. Friendships have to endure differences.”
Merkel’s remarks on China followed recent comments by Steinmeier who openly acknowledged earlier that Berlin-Beijing ties were in “deep turmoil” in the wake of the official Dalai Lama talks.
The chancellor has strongly defended her decision to meet with the Dalai Lama.
“As chancellor, I decide whom I meet and where I meet them. I wish everyone in the government would keep to this position because otherwise China’s respect for us will not increase,” she was quoted saying.
Her remarks were clearly aimed at Steinmeier who has criticized Merkel for trying to “showcase” the human rights issue as part of her wider public relations strategy in the field of German foreign policy.
The Merkel-Steinmeier dispute comes at a time where both coalition partners are getting ready for the 2009 election campaign with the Social Democrats (SPD) trailing by a wide margin in all opinion polls over the past weeks.
Although SPD chairman Kurt Beck is still a front-runner for the chancellor’s job, Merkel views also Steinmeier as a likely serious contender for the top post in Germany.