Merkel sees hopeful signs from Israel over West Asia

BERLIN, Dec 10 (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today positive signals coming from Israel should be used to make progress towards securing peace in the West Asia.

Speaking after a meeting with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and two days before a visit from Israel's Premier Ehud Olmert, Merkel reiterated she would use Germany's six-month presidency of the EU next year to renew peace efforts.

''We want to use these hopeful signals which are being sent by the Israeli government to make progress,'' Merkel told a joint news conference with Mubarak. ''We need results in order to halt the violence in the Palestinian territories.'' Merkel and Mubarak agreed on the need to renew the so-called quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia -- who launched the West Asia ''road map'' in 2003 which was intended to revive talks on a long-term peace.

In an interview with Der Spiegel today, Olmert reiterated he was prepared to withdraw from the majority of settlements in the occupied West Bank. He also praised Merkel.

''Merkel is fantastic,'' Olmert said. ''She appears to me to be one of the most serious and the most responsible leaders that Europe has had in years,'' the magazine quoted him as saying.

Merkel also criticised Syria, however, for failing to recognise the Lebanese government. Last week Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a trip to the region to urge Syria, seen as a key to West Asia peace, not to interfere in Lebanon.

''The result of the foreign minister's visit to Syria was unfortunately not such that I can see that Syria wants at present to make a contribution in terms of constructive steps,'' Merkel said. ''That is very regrettable.'' ''It would be very pleasing and also for example very easy if the Syrian government would diplomatically support the recognition of the Lebanese government,'' she said.

Leading Western powers have sought to isolate Damascus over its alleged role in last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut. Syria's critics also accuse it of killing anti-Syria cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.

The Syria government denies involvement in the killings.

REUTERS PDM RAI0001