Schröder: US Has Decisive Role in Mid-East

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who will start a tour of the Gulf region Sunday, said he had the impression after talks with US President George W. Bush this week that ashington was prepared to play a "decisive role to advance the peace process" in the Middle East. Schröder made the comment after meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Berlin on Friday. The Jordanian leader said there was a "golden opportunity" for progress in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "I believe we have a golden opportunity on the Israeli-Palestinian issue to move it forward," Abdullah said. "We are optimistic at the good start that the Israelis and the Palestinians have had." The king thanked Germany for its contributions to European efforts to "bring peace and stability and hope to our part of the Middle East."