Quartet on the Middle East
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The Quartet on the Middle East, sometimes called the Diplomatic Quartet or Madrid Quartet or simply the Quartet, is a foursome of nations and international and supranational entities involved in mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Quartet are the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia. The group was established in Madrid in 2002 by the Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, as a result of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Tony Blair is the Quartet's current Special Envoy.
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[edit] Special Envoys
James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank, was appointed Special Envoy for Israel's disengagement from Gaza in April 2004.[1] He stepped down the following year because of restrictions in dealing with the Islamic militant group Hamas and the withholding of money from the Palestinian Authority, risking its collapse.[2]
Tony Blair announced that he had accepted the position of the official envoy of the Quartet, the same day he resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as a Member of Parliament on 27 June 2007.[3] The approval came after initial objections by Russia.[4] The United Nations is overseeing the finances and security of his mission.[5]
[edit] Peace efforts and actions
Tony Blair has periodically travelled to the Middle East following his appointment as Special Envoy. On a trip there in March 2008, he met with Israeli leaders to discuss recent violence. A planned meeting between Israeli and Palestinian businessmen was postponed due to recent fighting. [6] In May 2008 Tony Blair announced a new plan for peace and for Palestinian rights, based heavily on the ideas of the Peace Valley plan. [7]
In 2006, Israeli and Palestinian delegations called for the People's Republic of China to join the Quartet.[8]
In an August 2009 interview, Tony Blair said he would like to see Hamas and Hezbollah included in peace talks but under the right conditions, that religious leaders should be more involved in the peace process, and that resolving the conflict could be easier than it was in Northern Ireland.[1]
[edit] Controversy
In March 2010, it was revealed that Blair was involved in business consulting to an oil firm with interests in Iraq. The news raised immediate concerns that Blair might be abusing his role of Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East for personal gain.[9]
[edit] Representatives
United Kingdom — Special Envoy Tony Blair
United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
European Union — High Representative Catherine Ashton
United States of America — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Russian Federation — Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "United Nations (14 April 2005). "Secretary-General Welcoms James Wolfensohn's Appointment by Quartet". Press release. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/sgsm9820.doc.htm.
- ^ Stephen Farrell (3 May 2006). "West 'has to prevent collapse' of Palestinian Authority". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article712400.ece. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ "Blair appointed Middle East envoy". BBC News. 27 June 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6244358.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ "Quartet at loggerheads over scope of authority for Mideast envoy". Haaretz. 27 June 2007. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/875253.html. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
- ^ United Nations Security Council Verbatim Report meeting 5736 on 29 August 2007 (retrieved 2007-09-02)
- ^ Livni: Israel not expanding settlements, By HERB KEINON, HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, AND TOVAH LAZAROFF, Jerusalem Post, 3/13/08.
- ^ Israel may ease grip in Tony Blair deal to revive West Bank, The Times May 14, 2008
- ^ http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200612/16/eng20061216_333190.html
- ^ "Blair's fight to keep his oil cash secret: Former PM's deals are revealed as his earnings since 2007 reach £20million". Daily Mail. 19 March 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259030/Tony-Blairs-secret-dealings-South-Korean-oil-firm-UI-Energy-Corp.html. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
[edit] External links
- US Mission to the UN archive of press releases pertaining to the Middle East
- UN News Focus: Middle East archive of Middle East Quartet statements
- Joint Statement by the Quartet, upon meeting in London, 1 March 2005
- Joint Statement by the Quartet, upon meeting in Moscow, 19 March 2010
- Middle East Quartet Statements U.S. State Department
- President Welcomes Quartet Principals to White House, press release from meeting of the Quartet Principals on 20 December 2002
- "Tony Blair's UN Role May Conflict with New Job with JP Morgan Chase" by Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press, January 10, 2008
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