DAMASCUS (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Sunday renewed the call for lifting the unjust Israeli siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip, the official SANA news agency reported.

Muallem made the call while meeting with visiting EU special representative for the Middle East peace process Marc Otte, urging to put pressures on Israel to open the crossing points and allow food stuffs, fuels and medical assistance to the area.
During the talks, they discussed developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip due to the Israeli siege.
Muallem underlined importance of the European role in the peace process, stressing that Israel's continued policies of siege and settlement block the establishment of peace in the region.
Otte told reporters after the meeting that the two sides also discussed the peace process in the region, including the Turkey-mediated indirect Syrian-Israeli talks.
The EU official noted that 2009 would be a pivotal year, and concerted efforts should be made to achieve progress in the peace process and improve security in the region.