BERLIN, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Berlin Thursday she endorsed resuming a Middle East peace plan.
Rice met Merkel, who holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, after a tour of eight Arab countries and Israel.
Wednesday night, Germany announced representatives from the so-called quartet -- the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union -- would meet in Washington next month to renew discussion on ways to end the Middle East conflict, Deutsche Welle reported.
"We have a common political interest in finding a solution to this conflict and the European Union would like to make a contribution within the framework of the quartet," Merkel said. "We know that resolving this conflict or at least making progress would also have an effect on all the other regional conflicts."
Before departing to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, Rice agreed with Merkel on the regional ramifications.
"There is no doubt that there could be a very important effect on the entire region if we are able to make progress on Middle East peace," Rice said.
