By IRNA
Berlin : German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will hold talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Berlin on Thursday, a German official announced here Wednesday.
Speaking to media representatives, German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Jaeger said the meeting would focus on ‘Syria’s contribution in a comprehensive peace solution’ in the Middle East.
Jaeger reiterated that a peace settlement in the volatile Mideast region was ‘not possible without Syria’s participation’.
Talks will also dwell on the latest situation in Lebanon, the foreign ministry spokesperson added.
The planned meeting between Steinmeier and al-Moallem comes in the wake of Tuesday’s Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip which killed at least 19 people and injured dozens.
Steinmeier visited Syria in December 2006 when he met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The German foreign minister had in August 2006 called off a visit to Damascus only hours prior to his planned arrival after al-Assad branded Israel as ‘an enemy’ and stressed it was an honor for Syria to support Lebanon’s Islamic resistance Hezbollah in its fight against the illegal Jewish state.