officials said Monday that discussions on naming Blair to the envoy post had been completed and the issue was on the Quartet's Tuesday agenda. Blair himself did not rule out the idea on Tuesday. "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," he said in London.
"As I have said on many occasions, I would do whatever I could to help such a resolution come about." Deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey would not discuss Blair's prospects. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, and U.
S. Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, speak to students from Larmenier Sacred Heart Primary School, London, Tuesday June 26, 2007. "They have talked about the idea .
.. of having an envoy, having someone who would be available on behalf of the quartet to work on a variety of issues, including efforts to help support the development of Palestinian Authority institutions," Casey told reporters.
official said the quartet had agreed on a job description for the special envoy position that Blair will assume shortly after leaving office on Wednesday, the senior official said, disputing reports in the Israeli media that Russia was holding up an official announcement. "The Russians are the least enthusiastic about creating the position and least enthusiastic about Blair, but they didn't object," the official said. "No one objected.
" Blair's new job will deal primarily with helping the Palestinian Authority build political institutions and will not, at least at first, involve direct mediation or negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis, the official said, noting that the quartet itself "retains the right to be the interlocutor between the Israelis and Palestinians." British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, and U.S.
Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, arrive at Larmenier Sacred Heart Primary School, London, Tuesday June 26, 2007. The post is expected to be unpaid but will come with staff and logistical support, as did a previous similar position held by the former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn, who had a narrower job description. "The job is not just about economics, but it should not be mistaken as a mediator or negotiator," the official said.
Both Israeli and Palestinian officials reacted positively to the prospect of Blair's involvement in peace efforts. "Tony Blair is a very well-appreciated figure in Israel," said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Fahmi al-Zaarer, a spokesman for Abbas' Fatah movement, said the Palestinians would welcome Blair.
officials said Monday that discussions on naming Blair to the envoy post had been completed and the issue was on the Quartet's Tuesday agenda.
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