King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia arrived in Berlin this week with an entourage of 11 planes -- including a flying hospital -- and a fleet of limousines to discuss Saudi-German relations and the Middle East peace process during a three-day stay in the German capital. German Chancellor Angela Merkel personally greeted the 83-year-old monarch at Tegel Airport and accompanied him to Hotel Adlon, on Pariser Platz, where he stayed in the €12,500-a-night suite that often hosts international dignitaries.

Merkel met with the king twice during his Berlin visit. During their meetings, King Abdullah stressed the traditionally friendly relationship that Germany has enjoyed with Saudi Arabia. Merkel first met King Abdullah  last February in the Saudi capital of Riyadh during a tour of several Middle Eastern countries.

On Thursday, Abdullah asked Merkel to lead Germany into a more active role in the Middle East Peace process. He also reportedly outlined his plans for an upcoming peace conference in Maryland, where the United States hopes to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process with a discussion about the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

While in Italy last week, Abdullah stressed the strong role that the United States will need to play in promoting an independent Palestinian state in order for the Arab League -- of which Abdullah is a powerful leader -- to take the Maryland conference seriously.

Merkel was also preparing for a trip to the United States, and on Friday she left Germany for Texas, where she will meet with President George W. Bush on his ranch. The German media has speculated that Merkel will urge the president to avoid a military conflict with Iran, and in advance of that meeting Merkel and King Abdullah discussed Iran's atomic ambitions.

Also on Thursday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier met with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al Faisal, and the pair signed a declaration of intent to hold regular foreign policy talks. Meanwhile, Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit gave King Abdullah a tour of Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.

Just beyond the massive security that carpeted the square during the king's visit, a small circle of protesters from groups like Amnesty International rallied against his regime, which has been accused of wide-ranging human and civil rights infringements. A spokesman for Merkel said that the chancellor would not shirk from stressing the importance of democratic and personal freedoms. "If that topic comes up during their discussion, you can be assured that the Chancellor will not stray from the stance the Germans have always taken," a government spokesman told the Associated Press.