Straubing, Germany - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, expressed optimism over Lebanon's political future Monday, following the election of a president by parliament in Beirut last month.

President Michel Suleiman was well aware of the need for reconciliation in the country, aides to the ministers said on the sidelines of a top-level meeting of their respective governments in the Bavarian town of Straubing.

By contrast, progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, initiated by US President George W Bush last year, was "very difficult."

Steinmeier phoned Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Sunday to remind him of Syria's pledge to exchange ambassadors with Lebanon, a spokesman for the German foreign minister said.

Germany has long been critical of Damascus for its "unconstructive" interventions in Syria, holding the Syrian government responsible for the six-month delay in electing a Lebanese president. (dpa)