Mideast tour

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Sunday supported the Arab League's decision to withdraw its monitors from Syria, implicitly urging China and Russia to drop their resistance to a UN Security Council resolution that would address the escalating violence in the country.

"I think the latest decision of the Arab League is a good reason for other partners at the Security Council to change their own positions and not to be reluctant any longer," Westerwelle said.

The Arab League withdrew its monitors from Syria on Saturday in response to continued violent clashes between Syrian security forces, armed deserters and anti-government protesters. The League is now seeking UN support for a new plan that would call on Syrian President Bashar al Assad to hand over power to a deputy in order to begin a political transition.

Westerwelle said Germany and other European Union members planned to work with the Arab League at the Security Council to "convince reluctant partners" to support a "common language" on the crisis in Syria.

Stalled peace process

The German foreign minister made his comments after arriving in Jordan on Sunday, where he kicked off a four-nation Mideast tour that will also take him to Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

During a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh, Westerwelle called on Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table and revive the stalled peace process.

"It is necessary that the direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians should continue because there is no alternative for a negotiated two-state solution," he said.

Arab Spring and Iran

Westerwelle also discussed the Arab Spring with Judeh, calling it a period that brought "revolutionary change" to Egypt and "evolutionary change" to Jordan.

"Both can be very successful and it depends on the tangible results," Westerwelle said. "Therefore, we support both ways if they move in the direction of reforms and more political participation."

Westerwelle told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that rising tensions with Iran over its nuclear program could only be reduced if Tehran moderated its position. He said the EU would not be lead away from "the path of decisiveness against Iran acquiring an atomic weapon."

"In Iran we are seeing a regrettable and dangerous escalation in rhetoric," he said, adding that Iran's leaders "must finally understand that they have the key to reducing tensions in their hands."

Author: Spencer Kimball (AFP, dapd, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler