German Foreign Minister Nixes Syria Trip

German Foreign Minister-Frank Walter Steinmeier speaks during a media conference after an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers at the EU Council building in Brussels, in this Aug. 1, 2006 file photo. Steinmeier canceled a planned trip to Syria Tuesday Aug. 15, 2006, his ministry said. Steinmeier had been due to fly to Damascus from the Jordanian capital, Amman, as part of a round of talks aimed at resolving the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe) (Yves Logghe - AP)

BERLIN -- Germany's foreign minister canceled a trip to Damascus on Tuesday to protest a speech by Syrian President Bashar Assad, who praised Hezbollah and threatened Israel.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier had planned to fly to the Syrian capital from Amman, Jordan, for a round of talks aimed at resolving the crisis between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

But he called off the Syrian leg at short notice, saying Assad's comments earlier Tuesday were a "negative contribution."

Assad said: "We tell them (Israelis) that after tasting humiliation in the latest battles, your weapons are not going to protect you _ not your planes, or missiles or even your nuclear bombs ... The future generations in the Arab world will find a way to defeat Israel."

In response, Steinmeier said in Amman that Syria can "restore lost trust" among the international community through "positive and constructive action," according to Germany's Foreign Ministry.

"However, a basic condition is that a clear and unequivocal commitment to resolve regional differences through peaceful means is essential. Today's speech by President Assad goes in the opposite direction," he said. "That is why I have decided not to go to Damascus now."

Steinmeier had been expected to meet with Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Moallem in Damascus before concluding his trip in Saudi Arabia.

Syria's foreign ministry confirmed that the German foreign minister had canceled a visit to Damascus but said it was called off because of "diverging views" over the U.N. cease-fire resolution.

Separately, German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said Berlin would give details at this week's U.N. meeting in New York about what it could contribute to the planned U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

"Where we have possibilities, we will indicate our capabilities accordingly," Jung told reporters during a visit to troops in western Germany.

German leaders have indicated that the country will play some role in the operation.

However, some oppose deploying German troops near the Israeli border because of the country's Nazi past.

Some politicians also warned that the German military is stretched by deployments in Afghanistan, Congo and former Yugoslavia, and can only provide sea patrols in the Mediterranean Sea or security on Lebanon's border with Syria.