Rice backs Blair ahead of Mideast Quartet meeting
Source: Reuters
By Sue Pleming LISBON, July 19 (Reuters) - The United States will keep leading Middle East peace efforts with Tony Blair playing a complementary role as envoy to the Quartet of mediators, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday. She was speaking ahead of the first Quartet meeting since Hamas Islamists seized control of Gaza from President Mahmoud Abbas's forces last month and since the former British prime minister was designated as the group's envoy. The Quartet of the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations are expected to endorse the latest U.S. efforts to revive peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians as well as to discuss Blair's role. Blair's duties have been defined by the Quartet as raising funds for the Palestinians, building their ruling institutions and promoting their economic development, but diplomats have told Reuters he seeks more direct involvement in peacemaking. "I think his mandate was made clear by the Quartet when they issued the statement and now when we meet we will have the opportunity to talk more about that," Rice told reporters travelling with her to Lisbon for the meeting. Rice said she saw the role of Blair, appointed as Quartet envoy the day he stepped down after 10 years in power, as "completely complementary" but made clear she saw her own role as dealing with the political issues. "There is also a political track that for a variety of reasons the United States is committed to lead in coordination with the Quartet," she said. The Quartet should also endorse U.S. plans to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace moves when they meet on Thursday, Rice said. "The Quartet members have already made clear that they endorse what the president has said," she said. As part of U.S. President George W. Bush effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, he announced this week he intends to hold a Middle East peace conference in the autumn. That would probably bring together Israel, moderate Palestinian leaders and their Arab neighbours.
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