Germany, Russia back reviving West Asia peace process

SOCHI, Russia, Jan 21 (Reuters) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today she and Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the so-called Quartet of international mediators launching a new drive to revive the West Asia peace process.

The Quartet -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- is expected to meet in Washington on February 2 to try to kick-start long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

''We agreed completely that the revival of the West Asia Quartet is a good thing,'' Merkel told reporters after meeting Putin in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea coast.

Putin said: ''We intend to pay special attention to the solution of the West Asia problem based on the road map recognised by all sides. We support efforts by (Merkel) to hold a meeting of the Quartet of mediators very soon.'' REUTERS LL BS2257