BERLIN, FEB 5, SPA -- GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL HAS UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TALKS SHE HAD CONDUCTED IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA. IN A STATEMENT TO THE FIRST CHANNEL OF THE GERMAN TELEVISION, TELECAST TODAY, MERKEL SAID THE POLITICAL VIEWS OF THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION ARE HIGHLY RESPECTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. SHE NOTED THAT THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA HAS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THE PROCESS OF BRINGING ABOUT PEACE IN THE REGION. 'THE KINGDOM HAS INFLUENCE ON THE CONFLICTING PARTIES, NOTABLY THE PALESTINIAN AND LEBANESE PARTIES," SHE NOTED. 'DURING MY MEETING WITH THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES, KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ, I HAVE FELT HIS KEENNESS ON BRINGING ABOUT A JUST PEACE IN THE REGION', MERKEL SAID. SHE NOTED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS IN THIS RESPECT WOULD NEVER BE CULMINATED INTO SUCCESS UNLESS THE US PRESENTS AN INITIATIVE TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS. THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR EMPHASIZED THE EXISTENCE OF STRONG COOPERATION BETWEEN EUROPE AND WASHINGTON TO REVIVE THE ROAD MAP.'DUE TO THEIR STRONG RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB PARTIES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN, THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING A PIONEERING ROLE IN BRINGING ABOUT PEACE IN THE ENTIRE REGION," SHE CONCLUDED.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/423139