US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the Mideast "quartet" of the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States was likely to meet early next month in a move to revive the Middle East peace talks.

Speaking after meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Rice said she looks forward to the meeting, which could be held in Washington, to "re-energize the quartet."

Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said it was the right time for a meeting of the quartet.

It would help resolve the Middle East crisis if the international community could once again speak with one voice, he said.

Rice arrived in Berlin after a four-day visit through the Middle East region. She will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday before flying to Britain.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2007)