2009-06-05 11:42:03 -

DRESDEN, Germany (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo this week opened doors to the Arab world and pointed to a «unique opportunity» to revive Middle East peace efforts.
The German leader said Thursday's address in which Obama reached out to the Muslim world «can be the point of departure for many political activities» regarding the stalled Middle East peace process.
«I think that, with the new American government and the president, there is a truly unique opportunity to revive this peace process or, let us put this very cautiously, this process of negotiations,» Merkel said at a news conference after talks with Obama.
«Yesterday's speech in a way opened doors toward the Arab world,» she said.
Merkel said Germany is ready to help in that process and stressed that «we need a two-state solution» with Israel living side-by-side with a Palestinian state.

She also underlined her country's tradition of good relations with Israel and its staunch commitment to the Jewish state's security.
«It is, of course, the case that the parties themselves must have the will» to make peace, Merkel said. But «for peace in the world, for the overall situation, this is from my point of view the core problem, and so we all have a real wish and will to make progress here.