Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has repeatedly rejected assumptions that he is aspiring for the post as future foreign minister to the EU. But this weekend, following a successful summit in Greece, Fischer had a first taste of a role he has so far so clearly denied.

Not only was Fischer, alongside Secretary of State Colin Powell, the only foreign minister to be formally greeted at this weekend's opening of the World Economic Forum -- despite the presence of various other EU ministers. It was Fischer who took on the role of speaking in the name of the EU at the opening platform discussion, and not EU foreign policy chief Javiar Solana, who sat with him on the stage.

The message that Fischer represents on his current Middle East tour is clearly European: "The US is of course the decisive factor. But the Europeans will also make a substantial contribution".

Inclusion of Arab states

Joschka Fischer's travels in the coming days will take him to all four countries bordering the Palestinian autonomous areas and Israel -- Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt -- in an attempt to support the US' efforts at promoting piece in the region.

While the US is concentrating on the two main parties in the conflict, Fischer hopes to animate governments in Syria and Lebanon, which support the anti-Israeli organization Hisbollah, to ensure the group does not torpedo the peace process.

Violence overshadows peace process

Both US Secretary of State and the German Foreign Minister voiced concern that retaliation from militant organization Hamas, following Sunday's killing of senior Hamas official Abdullah Kawasme by Israeli forces, could impede progress on the "road map" to peace.

The road map, pieced together by diplomats from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, aims to bring to an end Palestinian violence, a freeze on Israeli settlement expansion and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Both conflict parties have already conceded to the plan.

Speaking on Sunday, Fischer called for Arab leaders to recognize their own responsibilities with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "What strikes me is that Israel is still always held responsible for everything negative... or recently, the US as well. I think that has lead nowhere in the past, and would do so now. Which is why I would like to suggest that the real challenge here is the modernization of the Arab world." He said the inclusion of Syria and Lebanon was the next step in the Middle East peace process.

US the "driver", Europe the "tool box"

Fischer's message, as he travels the Middle East is clear: The EU has played an important role in the development of the so-called "road-map", the current peace plan for the Middle East and will continue to do so in the attempt for peace in the region.

At the recent summit in Greece, EU leaders agreed to step up pressure on the organization Hamas. On Sunday, EU representatives will partake in further crucial talks on the future of the peace plan as the Middle East quartet gets together on the fringe of the current World Economic Forum in Jordan. And Fischer will continue Europe's concern and wish for a better future in the region on his current tour.

The US, Fischer said, was sitting on the driver's seat in the current peace process, but Europe had "the tool box".