Joschka Fischer Campaigns for Regional Stability on Trip to UAE

Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, called on Iraq and Saudi Arabia's neighbors to play a decisive role in helping stabilize the region. "All neighbors are called on to do this, become no one can be interested in an Arab civil war," he said. This is the first visit of a German foreign minister to the United Arab Emirates. In the capital Abu Dhabi, Fischer called for a gradual and sweeping modernization of the Arab world, although he said that had to be driven internally. If outside forces were seen as forcing change, it would fail, he said. Fischer also held talks with Emirati Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan about boosting economic ties, according to the official WAM news agency. Fischer, who was also scheduled to visit neighbouring Dubai, was to hold talks in Oman on Tuesday before flying back to Berlin.