Great contradictions of our time...

[stressederic]

Blair: I will do whatever I can for Middle East peace

 

 

Haroon Siddique and agencies

Tuesday June 26, 2007

Guardian Unlimited

 

 

Tony Blair with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Photograph: Adam Butler/AFP.

 

Tony Blair today declared himself ready to do "whatever he can", when asked whether his future after leaving No 10 will see him take up the mantle of Middle East peace envoy.

His words were the strongest indication so far that he will be charged with helping to bring about a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the special representative of the EU, UN, US and Russia - the so-called Quartet - once he steps down from power.

 

 

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The Quartet is ready to appoint Mr Blair on the back of intensive lobbying from the US, despite scepticism in some quarters about how his appointment will be viewed by Palestinians.

In response to being asked whether he expects to be offered the post, Mr Blair said: "I think that anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential.

 

"As I have said on many occasions, I would do whatever I could to help such a resolution come about."

 

While the outgoing prime minister looks towards life after No 10, his deputy, John Prescott, also has his eyes on a new job, sources claimed today.

 

Mr Prescott has apparently told Labour MPs he intends to stand as leader of the British delegation to the Council of Europe, which represents 47 countries, has a parliamentary assembly in Strasbourg with 636 members and includes among its aims protecting human rights.

 

Mr Prescott will need the backing of fellow MPs to replace the incumbent, Labour MP Tony Lloyd, who is understood to be standing down, but his new role would be likely to prove considerably less controversial than Mr Blair's.

 

The prime minister could face strong opposition from those in the Middle East who feel his copybook has been blotted by the invasion of Iraq, his close association with George Bush and his failure to call for a ceasefire during Israel's bombardment of Lebanon last summer.

 

The idea of Mr Blair doing this job is understood to have originated with the prime minister himself in conversation with Mr Bush, who then suggested it to the UN.

 

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, is said to be a keen supporter and Washington was reported last night to have mounted "an enormous push" to ensure Mr Blair got the post.

 

Diplomats said there was some disquiet over the way US talks with Mr Blair were well advanced before any details were shared with the other Quartet partners.

 

Mr Blair has constantly pressed Mr Bush to take a more active role in securing a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

 

Though his standing in the so-called Arab street may be low he is held in high regard by Arab political elites, and he has frequently spoken of his passion to play a part in helping to secure peace in the Middle East.

 

It was being stressed last night that Mr Blair's role - in the short term at least - would not be to act as a mediator between the Palestinians and the Israelis, or to become a negotiator for the road map to peace.

 

He might, however, be responsible for trying to persuade the Palestinians to accept the conditions for ending the international boycott of Hamas.

 

Diplomats familiar with the proposed mandate for Mr Blair said it did not differ in substance from that of his predecessor, James Wolfensohn, who left the job in April 2006.

 

Mr Wolfensohn worked on issues such as galvanising international economic assistance to the Palestinians, economic development, governance, justice and human rights.

 

Mr Blair has repeatedly said the Middle East peace talks need to be micro-managed in the way that he handled the Northern Ireland peace process.

 

Guardian

 

A trip to the Hague would surely help things a long a bit.

[fyds]

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[John am Rhein]

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