Blair 'to be named Middle East envoy'
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2007 09:05
Tony Blair is leaving Downing Street tomorrow
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Outgoing prime minister Tony Blair is to be named as an official envoy to the Middle East, according to reports.
It is claimed that the question of Mr Blair's appointment will discussed today by the so-called Quartet of mediators who are pushing for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in the region.
Diplomats from the EU, Russia, UN and the US are reportedly planning to discuss whether the prime minister should be installed as their chief negotiator when they meet in Jerusalem.
A European diplomat told the Reuters news agency: "There are consultations going on between members of the Quartet and the UK about appointing Tony Blair as Quartet envoy to the Palestinians.
"I cannot say whether there is a result, but I expect a result possibly on Tuesday when the Quartet envoys meet, perhaps even sooner," the source added.
Mr Blair, who will leave office tomorrow, has yet to comment on his future plans. Asked about reports that he would assume the Middle East role yesterday, the prime minister's official spokesman told journalists that he had nothing to say on the matter.
It is claimed that US president George Bush has been pushing for Mr Blair to be nominated for the post, which has remained vacant since former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn resigned from the job last April.
Some commentators believe that the prime minister's experience in negotiating a peace settlement in Northern Ireland make him an ideal candidate to seek stability in the Middle East, where factional fighting between the Palestinians has been threatening to undermine efforts to end the ongoing dispute over territory between them and Israel.
However others stress that Mr Blair is a controversial figure in the region and that the Palestinians are skeptical of his ability to achieve results there.
Meanwhile the prime minister is set to hold his final bilateral talks, with a former actor.
Hollywood star-turned California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is due to hold climate change talks with Mr Blair at No 10 during his last day as Britain's premier.