Fischer began this latest visit to the Middle East, his fourth this year, in Egypt on Tuesday before moving onto Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. During the three-day visit, Fischer will hold talks with leaders on the political situation in the region.

Upon arrival in Cairo, Fischer planned to meet with Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Maher and Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League (with Fischer in picture), in Cairo before moving onto Jordan later on Tuesday for discussions with Marwan Moasher, the Jordanian foreign minister, in Amman.

Iraq and peace process on agenda

The trip’s agenda is expected to be dominated by discussions on the peaceful transfer of power in Iraq and ways to help advance the troubled peace process in the region, a topic that Fischer is personally committed to.

Like its EU partners, Germany is a strong supporter of the so-called "road map" for peace drafted by the European Union, Russia, the United States and United Nations, which would create a Palestinian state by 2005 dependent on security guarantees for Israel. Fischer’s willingness to be a familiar face in the region is seen by many in the region as a sign of his, and the EU’s, support.

The German Foreign Minister will conclude his visit with meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on Wednesday as well as holding talks with the Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.

EU support for Palestinian prime minister?

Fischer’s decision to meet with Qureia holds particular significance as it could well be interpreted as a European Union endorsement of his appointment. A statement from the German foreign ministry went so far as to confirm this by saying that the planned meeting would underscore the importance that the EU attaches to Qureia’s post.

However, one person Fischer will not be meeting is Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Officially, scheduling problems are the reason Arafat is not included in this round of talks. But there do appear to be other forces at work keeping the two from meeting for the second time this year.

Sharon exerts pressure over Arafat

Ariel Sharon was quoted in the German press at the weekend, urging Germany and the entire European Union to review its relations with Arafat and saying that having contact with the symbol of Palestinian nationhood "does not contribute to the development of the peace process." Sharon’s administration has recently stepped up its policy of pressuring foreign visiting diplomats to ignore Yasser Arafat and meet with members of the new Palestinian Authority government.

The pressure on Germany increased on the morning before Fischer was due to set off on his visit. Shimon Stein, Israel's ambassador to Germany said on Monday that the European Union needs to shun Yasser Arafat and show more empathy with Israel if it wants to play an influential role in resolving Israel's conflict with the Palestinians.

EU should show balance, says envoy

"If the Europeans are to have a chance in the Middle East, in this conflict, it will only be when the Israelis perceive that the Europeans aren't one-sided and unbalanced but try to show a certain empathy for the situation in which the Israelis find themselves," the envoy told Reuters.

He also echoed Sharon’s comments by adding that Israel would take a dim view if Fischer, who met Arafat during his last trip in April, were to visit the Palestinian president again. "We don't believe a meeting with Arafat is a positive contribution, but rather the opposite,” Stein said. “We see a meeting with Arafat as counter-productive."

However, Stein said Israelis had higher regard for Fischer than they did for the 15-member bloc as a whole. "He enjoys great respect in Israel, but I don't think that applies to the whole of the European Union," Stein said.