Rice cites strong encouragement for Middle East peace agreement

Berlin: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday she heard strong encouragement from Israeli and Palestinian leaders and their neighbours for quick progress toward a Middle East peace agreement.

Before a session in which Rice was to update German leaders on her recent trip to the Middle East, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Europe and others are eager to help.

"There is no doubt there could be a very important effect on the entire region if we are able to make progress on Middle East peace," Rice said.

"I did find the parties very desirous of making progress," she added. "I believe the whole region is looking for ways to make progress and drive toward the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Merkel, who has urged the US to redouble efforts toward a solution, said she was "very happy that the secretary of state informed me about her trip because there is the impression of movement in the question of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".

At the start of her Berlin visit on Wednesday, Rice said now is not the time for the United States to talk to adversary Iran and that the Bush administration is not trying to escalate a confrontation over Iraq.

The top US diplomat is in Europe to bring German and British leaders up to date on Mideast peacemaking efforts. She was seeing British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett later yesterday.