Fischer meets Resistance to Road Map in Middle East

Joschka Fischer said Lebanon and Syria can play a constructive role in bringing the bloody conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians to an end. The German foreign minister has been crisscrossing the Middle East since Saturday taking the current temperature of regional leaders as he throws his weight behind the internationally-backed road map for peace.

"I'm here to explore the visions of those who are in charge in Beirut and Damascus," Fischer told reporters after talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid. "What can we do to enhance this process based on the legitimate interests of Lebanon and Syria? I think both countries can play a very constructive and very productive role."

Despite the inclusive words, Fischer met with resistance to the current form of the road map in talks with Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, who insisted on more consideration of the interests of Lebanon and Syria in planning the way toward peace. Without the close involvement of both countries, Hariri said, a lasting regional peace would not be possible. He argued that the current plan--backed by an international "quartet" consisting of the United State, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia--did not involve Syria and Lebanon to the extent it should.

Success of the road map to peace has been cast into doubt by an increase in violence that erupted almost directly after the plan was launched 18 days ago at a summit in Jordan. Recent outbreaks of violence have included the killing of a senior Hamas leader by Israeli special forces in the West Bank town of Hebron and the death of four Palestinian militants who were killed in an explosion on the Gaza Strip. Witnesses said the four were killed when a bomb they were planning for Israelis blew up prematurely.

Bringing Old Enemies on Board

Fischer's Middle East trip takes him to two countries which have long been enemies of Israel and are considered key players in the region's stability. Syria has been demanding the return of the Golan Heights which Israel captured from it in 1967. Lebanon is the home of Hizbollah gorillas who helped drive Israel out of south Lebanon three years ago and who the U.S. considers a terrorist group.

"I hope that we can find an agreement that all the regional players will support, because we think it is a great opportunity," Fischer told reporters. "Time is running very rapidly. I think this opportunity should be used."

Still, Fischer indirectly rejected suggestions for the drawing up of a second road map that promotes a peace between Israel, Syria and Lebanon. France had said earlier this month that the European Union was considering such a plan. Fischer stressed that the existing plan, drawn up by Washington, should be brought forward. The current road map envisions negotiations between Israel and its neighbors only in the second phase. However, Fischer said he was open to "creative ideas" from players in the region that could help move the peace process along.

On Monday, Fischer also met with the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud before flying to Syria for a one-hour meeting with that country's president, Bashar al-Assad.

After the meeting in Damascus, Fischer told reporters he had called on the Syrian government to support the quartet's plan, in order to play "a constructive role" in the situation.

Syria's foreign minister, Faruq al-Shara, said his country did not want a confrontation with Israel, but a comprehensive peace. However, he repeated Lebanon's concerns. "It is not acceptable for Lebanon and Syria to get pushed aside in the road map."

Fischer's last stop is Egypt, where he is scheduled to hold meetings with President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday.

Stability through Trade

The German foreign minister kicked off this latest Middle East trip at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, which has begun its final session in Jordan. The forum, which has brought together more than a thousand leaders from the worlds of business and politics, has been dominated by the reconstruction of Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Now leaders are discussing strategies to stimulate the region's economies, which analysts say is a key to lasting stability.

Free trade has been a central theme and the Americans are pushing the establishment of a free trade agreement linking the region with the U.S., saying freer trade is part of the answer to the Middle East's record of poor economic growth.

Experts at the forum have also been tackling topics such as building high-tech industries, developing tourism, managing water resources and putting Arab banking practices in place.

During Fischer's time at the forum on Saturday, he offered Germany's support in the rebuilding of Iraq. Whether that offer will be accepted or not, he said, depended on the U.S.-led coalition now in charge in Iraq. Germany fell out of favor with the U.S. when it expressed its vocal opposition to the conflict.