Blair seeks broader role in Mideast peace

Guy Dinmore in Washington. The Financial Times. 11/07/07. Tony Blair engaged on Tuesday in his first diplomatic encounter as the international community’s Middle East envoy, seeking a broader peacemaking role than first envisaged by the US state department. Demonstrating that the US was intent on maintaining its dominant role, the US spokesman added: “But I think all in the region and around the world are really going to look to the US and Secretary [Condoleezza] Rice for leadership on pushing forward the political tracks, whether that’s between the Israelis and the Palestinians or between the Israelis and the Arabs.”

Diplomats said they understood that the former UK prime minister had met, in London, senior officials representing the Quartet – the US, Russia, the European Union and United Nations.

Mr Blair wants a broad mandate that would include a political role in peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians, beyond the more narrowly focused terms of reference set out by the Quartet in announcing his new position as “representative” on June 27.

That statement focused on the practicalities of helping the Palestinians build the institutions and governance needed for a future state. It also included a vaguer remit to “liaise” with other countries in support of agreed Quartet principles.

The state department on Tuesday reacted cautiously to suggestions that Mr Blair would take on a wider political role. “I’m not sure we’ve heard that from [Mr] Blair,” Sean McCormack, department spokesman, said in Washington.

He said “people” had dismissed the idea of just helping the Palestinians build the necessary institutions but that Washington viewed this as being as important as defining a future state.

Demonstrating that the US was intent on maintaining its dominant role, the US spokesman added: “But I think all in the region and around the world are really going to look to the US and Secretary [Condoleezza] Rice for leadership on pushing forward the political tracks, whether that’s between the Israelis and the Palestinians or between the Israelis and the Arabs.”

A diplomat said Ms Rice had not been fully consulted by President George W. Bush when he first discussed Mr Blair’s new job at the G8 summit last month. But European pressure on the US could be succeeding in giving Mr Blair the political position he wants, diplomats told the Financial Times.

Ms Rice is due to visit the region next week; it is not clear when Mr Blair will go. The talks in London were also expected to cover the secretariat that will support Mr Blair in the region.

Ten EU foreign ministers have published an open letter to Mr Blair proposing an international force, of Nato or the UN, to enforce compliance with a ceasefire.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007

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