By IRNA
Berlin : German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier defended the recent meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem in Berlin amid ongoing criticism by leading members of the co-ruling Christian Democratic Union which is headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Talking with the daily Berliner Zeitung newspaper, Steinmeier stressed a “self-imposed ban on speaking” in dealing with complex governments was not helpful.
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the German Parliament, Ruprecht Polenz and a key foreign policy aide of Merkel, Eckart von Klaeden said talks between Steinmeier and al-Moallem did not yield any results regarding Syria’s stance on Lebanon.
On Friday, the German government dismissed press reports about disagreements between Merkel and Steinmeier over al-Moallem’s visit.
Talking to the press in Berlin on Friday, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg made clear that while there was a common stance on pressing Syria to take up an “important and constructive role” in the Mideast peace process, there were also different assessments as to whether a visitor should be received for talks.
There have been repeated news reports in recent days about deep divisions between Merkel and Steinmeier over Berlin’s rapprochement process with Damascus.
The United States and Lebanon launched a protest at the chancellery over Steinmeier’s meeting with al-Moallem, the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported Friday 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.