Quartet's new Middle East envoy Blair backs two-state solution, creating viable Palestinian institutions

Date: 20 / 07 / 2007 Time: 14:52

Bethlehem - Ma'an - Representatives of the international Quartet – comprising the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia – met in Lisbon yesterday to discuss further how to "move forward" in finding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Attending his first such meeting, the Quartet's new envoy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, expressed his commitment to peacemaking in the Middle East.

He stressed that, in his opinion, there was "no more important issue for peace and security in the world," the BBC reported.

Blair's mandate is focused on helping the Palestinians to develop their institutions and economy. According to a press release distributed by the European Union, the Quartet highlighted during their meeting yesterday "the centrality of reform, economic development, and institutional capacity building to the establishment of a stable and prosperous Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza that will unite all Palestinians, and live in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors."

Blair also stressed the need to create "viable" Palestinian institutions.

"First there has to be a strong, clear political perspective of two states," Blair was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera International. "It's got to then be translated into practical actions so the Palestinian state can come into being."

Consequently, "the Quartet urged the parties and all states in the region to work closely with Mr. Blair, and encouraged robust international support for his efforts."

However, Sharif Hikmit Nashashibi, chairman of UK-based Arab Media Watch, told Al Jazeera, that Blair had offered only "five minutes of fluff and generalisations".

"There was no real meat to what he was saying," he said. "It's typical Blair."

According to Reuters news agency, Blair will visit Jerusalem and Ramallah next week and report back to the Quartet on his strategy of reforms for the Palestinians in September, which is when the Quartet said its next meeting would take place.

The Quartet also welcomed US President George Bush's call for an international conference in the autumn, saying that "such a meeting should provide diplomatic support for the parties in their bilateral discussions and negotiations in order to move forward on a successful path to a Palestinian state." US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the Middle East shortly in order to garner support for this US-backed conference.

In the spirit of regional dialogue, the Quartet also said it "welcomed the resumption of bilateral talks between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas" and "expressed support for continued and expanded dialogue between Israel and the Arab states."

According to its statement, the Quartet expressed its support for Salam Fayyad and his government, which it said "reflects the January 30, 2006 Quartet principles," referring to the three conditions set down by the international mediators 18 months ago following Hamas' election victory. The three conditions for acceptance were: accept Israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and adopt the previously signed peace agreements.

In terms of the Palestinians' right to freedom of movement, the Quartet emphasized "the importance of creating circumstances that would allow for full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access, particularly in view of the impact of crossings on the Palestinian economy and daily life."

The representatives attending the meeting were Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, European Union Foreign and Security Policy Chief Javier Solana, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, and European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, along with the Quartet's new Middle East representative Tony Blair.

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