Fischer to start regional tour tomorrow to gage conditions

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Wednesday will start a tour of the Middle East covering Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said the aim of Fischer's tour is to hold talks to come up with a true picture about the current situation in the region and evaluating means of resetting the peace talks into its track.

The spokesman added that Fischer will try through talks with high-ranking officials in the countries he visits to find out the role that might be played by the European Union, whose rotating presidency Germany currently presides over, to revive the stalemated peace process.

Fischer will be accompanied by EU - Middle East peace process special envoy Miguel Moratinos and the European Commission chairman Manuel Martin.