AMMAN, Aug 29 (AFP) - German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Sunday that a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the stabilisation of Iraq and regional reforms were necessary to ensure Europe's security.
"When we talk of our security as Europeans, we are talking about the future of our neighbours the Middle East," Fischer told a joint news conference in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher.
"If things are going badly wrong in the region, it will hurt our interests immediately and security immediately," he said before heading into a meeting with King Abdullah II on the Middle East conflict and Iraq.
The Jordanian monarch expressed hope that Europe and the United States "take action to reactivate the peace process" between Israel and the Palestinians, the official Petra news agency reported.
At the news conference with Moasher, Fischer spelled out three conditions to ensure a prosperous and peaceful Middle East and guarantee Europe's security -- reforms, solving the Middle East conflict and stabilising Iraq.
"If you put all three together it is quite clear we need American leadership, America in the driver's seat," Fischer said.
"But ... this cannot be done alone by the United States, Europe will play an important role."
Fischer admitted that the three issues would be "difficult" to solve.
"To have a real breakthrough it is difficult, it is complicated. Sometimes it seems to be impossible but I don't see a real alternative.
"Therefore we have to work continuously."
He also called on Iran to work closely with the European Union to resolve its standoff with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"We are in intensive talks with Iran ... (and) we are really serious to find a way out," Fischer said.
"We hope the Iranian leadership in Tehran will not miscalculate the situation," he said, warning that failure to solve the issue "would be the beginning of a nuclear arms race in the region.
Under pressure from the IAEA, Iran agreed last year to suspend enriching uranium but it has resumed the assembly of centrifuges, begun uranium conversion and commenced the building of a heavy water reactor.
Britain, France and Germany have been pushing Iran to abandon its fuel cycle work altogether, even if such work is technically permitted under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Jordan was the third leg of Fischer's Middle East tour after Lebanon and Syria. He travels to Jerusalem for talks with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom Monday and then heads to Egypt.