STEINMEIER TO TRAVEL TO MIDEAST, PROMISES MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001972

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: KPAL PREL GM IS
SUBJECT: STEINMEIER TO TRAVEL TO MIDEAST, PROMISES MORE
ACTIVE GERMAN ROLE


Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeffrey Rathke for reasons 1.
4 (b,d).


1. (C) Foreign Minister Steinmeier kicks off a visit to
Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories October 29.
Steinmeier's trip is part of what the MFA bills as a more
active stance toward the Middle East peace process, with the
aim of supporting the USG efforts in the run-up to the
Annapolis meeting, and with a view beyond. On October 15,
Steinmeier publicized his proposed framework for an EU Action
Plan for the Middle East in the German economic newspaper,
"Handelsblatt." Explaining the timing of his new initiative,
Steinmeier comments in the article that given the current
Israeli-Palestinian talks, "there is a real chance" to reach
a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Europe has
an important role to undertake" in this regard, he continues.
He highlights two major goals for Europe: to create a
supportive and encouraging environment for the
Israeli-Palestinian talks, for which the U.S. plays a central
role; and to help rebuild the Palestinian economy as well as
its institutions and security apparatus. Regarding the
former goal, Steinmeier stressed that, "The engagement of the
American (Secretary of State) deserves recognition and
support." Steinmeier underlined that the EU has
"substantive, close and credible relationships with parties
and countries in the Near East, that it can bring in closer
coordination with the U.S. during this critical phase."


2. (C) Steinmeier will begin his Middle East trip on October
29, starting with meetings in Cairo with President Mubarak,
Foreign Minister Gheit, and Arab League Secretary General
Moussa, and continuing on for meetings in Israel with Prime
Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Livni and in Ramallah
with Chairman Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. According to
MFA Deputy Head of the Near East Division Sibylle Sorg,
Steinmeier's main goal in these meetings is to see how he can
be helpful in promoting the current negotiations between
Olmert and Abbas. Steinmeier also intends to present his
plan to the parties and learn from the Palestinians what type
of assistance they need to govern and to bolster security.
Steinmeier will then travel to Istanbul where he plans to
meet with the Secretary to discuss his trip.


3. (C) According to Sorg, Steinmeier's trip is to be
followed by the November 7 State Visit to Germany by Saudi
King Abdullah and then an Official Visit by Jordanian King
Abdullah on November 14. According to Sorg, the main goal of
these visits is for Germany to gain support from these two
Arab leaders for the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the
Annapolis meeting.
TIMKEN JR