Tony Blair becomes the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East
<noinclude>
{{date|June 27, 2007}}
__NOTOC__
[[Image:Tony Blair UK.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. {{image source|[http://flickr.com/photos/65817306@N00/433737639/ Jens Olaf]}}]]
On the same day that [[Tony Blair]] resigned as {{w|Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}} and quit as a {{w|Parliament of the United Kingdom|Member of Parliament}}, he was appointed envoy to the [[Middle East]] for the {{w|Quartet on the Middle East}}. The Quartet is made up of the [[United Nations]], the [[European Union]], the [[United States]] and [[Russia]].

The Quartet outlined Blair's duties in a statement:
{{CQuote|As Quartet Representative, he will:
*mobilise international assistance to the Palestinians, working closely with donors and existing coordination bodies 
*help to identify, and secure appropriate international support in addressing the institutional governance needs of the Palestinian state, focusing as a matter of urgency on the rule of law 
*develop plans to promote Palestinian economic development, including private sector partnerships, building on previously agreed frameworks, especially concerning access and movement 
*and liaise with other countries as appropriate in support of the agreed Quartet objectives }}

Tony Blair said, in his final address to Parliament on Wednesday, that "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community &mdash; that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution," Blair continued, "I believe it is possible to do that but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work."

According to the Quartet statement, "Tony Blair will be supported in this work by a small team of experts, based in Jerusalem." Also, he will "report to and consult regularly with the Quartet and be guided by it as necessary."

===Reactions===
A statement from the office of [[Israel]]i Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] said that as envoy, Blair could "allow for progress in the peace process."

An aide to the President of the {{w|Palestinian National Authority}}, [[Mahmoud Abbas]], told reporters that Abbas "hopes [Blair] can help relieve the suffering of our people and provide basic needs".

The {{w|Hamas}} organization who are the ''{{wikt|de facto}}'' rulers of the {{w|Gaza Strip}} said the appointment of Blair "was not helpful in solving the conflict in the Middle East."

[[Ian Paisley]], the {{w|Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister|First Minister}} of [[Northern Ireland]], credited Blair's efforts in that {{w|Home Nations|nation}}, saying: "I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated and at the end of the day he will be able to look back and say it was well worthwhile."

{{Haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|date=June 27, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=British Prime Minister Tony Blair to resign on June 27|date=May 10, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6244358.stm
|title=Blair appointed Middle East envoy
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=June 27, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6247246.stm
|title=Full text: Quartet statement
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=June 27, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2762380620070627?&src=062707_1759_DOUBLEFEATURE_brown_vows_change
|title=Blair named Mideast envoy, Israel kills 12 in Gaza
|author=Adam Entous
|pub=Reuters
|date=June 27, 2007}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Palestine]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Tony Blair]]
[[Category:Ian Paisley]]

[[fr:Tony Blair devient l'envoyé du Quartet au Moyen-Orient]]
[[pl:Pożegnanie z Tonym Blairem]]

</noinclude>
__NOTOC__
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 
On the same day that Tony Blair resigned as Parliament of the United Kingdom|Member of Parliament, he was appointed envoy to the Middle East for the . The Quartet is made up of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia.

The Quartet outlined Blair's duties in a statement:


Tony Blair said, in his final address to Parliament on Wednesday, that "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community — that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution," Blair continued, "I believe it is possible to do that but it will require a huge intensity of focus and work."

According to the Quartet statement, "Tony Blair will be supported in this work by a small team of experts, based in Jerusalem." Also, he will "report to and consult regularly with the Quartet and be guided by it as necessary."

An aide to the President of the , Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters that Abbas "hopes Blair can help relieve the suffering of our people and provide basic needs".

The de facto rulers of the  said the appointment of Blair "was not helpful in solving the conflict in the Middle East."

Ian Paisley, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, credited Blair's efforts in that nation, saying: "I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated and at the end of the day he will be able to look back and say it was well worthwhile."

fr:Tony Blair devient l'envoyé du Quartet au Moyen-Orient
pl:Pożegnanie z Tonym Blairem
Politics and conflicts Europe Russia United Kingdom Middle East Israel Palestine North America United States Tony Blair Ian Paisley