For the complete report in the Guardian Unlimited click on this link
Merkel goes in search of a new German miracle-Simon Tisdall
Avoiding the Blair mistake of being perceived as Washington's gofer, Ms Merkel appears determined to keep lines of communication open to Damascus and Tehran. "We are still trying on Syria. It would be folly to leave them to the Iranians," a Berlin diplomat said. And a high-level meeting with Ali Larijani, Iran's national security council chief, is possible at this weekend's Munich security conference.
Officials characterise Ms Merkel's Middle East initiatives as part of a wider effort to increase EU power and influence in the world. This approach, mirroring her commitment to an EU constitution, extends to strong German backing for the UN plan to hand over responsibility for Kosovo to Brussels, a continuing EU commitment in Afghanistan (where Germany has 2,700 troops and may soon send combat aircraft), and a more effective common security and defence policy.
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