German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that her country would help restart the stalled Middle East peace process next year after taking over the EU presidency.

"Germany will seize the initiative during the EU presidency ... the European Union has an active role to play," Merkel said in a regular video podcast.

Merkel, whose country is to take over the rotating EU presidency on Jan.1, stressed both Israel's right to exist and the Palestinians' right to establish their state, the key elements enshrined in the Middle East road map unveiled in 2003.

The peace plan, however, has been shelved amid escalation of tit-for-tat attacks between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army.

Merkel also urged the Middle East quartet to be revived. The four international mediators -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia -- launched the road map peace plan with an outlined two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Germany vows to help regain the momentum for the Middle East peace process after a report by former Secretary of State James Baker urged Washington to revive U.S. diplomatic efforts. U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged this week the need for concerted efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The German chancellor made the overture one day ahead of a visit by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a key player in the Middle East politics. She will also host Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Berlin on Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua