Under German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who enjoys the confidence of both the Israelis and the Palestinians, Germany has virtually adopted the role of unofficial mediator in the Middle East.

BBC: Europe's growing Mid East role

Rome will attempt to use both its links to the Gadhafi regime and its role in the intervention to carve out a post-conflict mediator role that can protect its interests.

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Yet some fail to understand why Turkey did not first seek to continue the role of mediator in Syria.

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Venezuela's president took to the role of mediator with predictable gusto.

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Mr Nukaga went to Japan saying he wanted to "play the role of mediator so that this year can be a good one for the two countries".

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There is therefore a move for greater co-ordination between the European and US positions and may ensure a continuing role for the EU as a mediator in future negotiations.

BBC: Europe's growing Mid East role

Sharif Ali sees the monarch's role as a mediator.

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My role is a mediator between the West and them.

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My role as mediator quickly morphed into a reporting assignment: Like Jenna, the more I learned, the more I needed to know.

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The role of the ombudsman varies from media to media, but generally an ombudsman acts as a mediator between the personnel of a media house and its users, fostering a dialogue between these two parties.

UNESCO: Communication and Information