This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7718775.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair urges Obama over peace deal | Blair urges Obama over peace deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Middle East envoy Tony Blair has called on the American president-elect, Barack Obama, to become fully engaged in the peace process in the region. | The Middle East envoy Tony Blair has called on the American president-elect, Barack Obama, to become fully engaged in the peace process in the region. |
| The former British Prime Minister said negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians required Mr Obama's energy, commitment and dedication. | The former British Prime Minister said negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians required Mr Obama's energy, commitment and dedication. |
| He was speaking in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after a meeting of the Quartet of Middle East mediators. | He was speaking in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh after a meeting of the Quartet of Middle East mediators. |
| It is understood hopes are fading for a peace deal by the end of the year. | It is understood hopes are fading for a peace deal by the end of the year. |
| Spring conference | Spring conference |
| At the meeting envoys from the US, the UN, the EU and Russia were briefed on the progress of a deal by Palestinian and Israeli leaders. | At the meeting envoys from the US, the UN, the EU and Russia were briefed on the progress of a deal by Palestinian and Israeli leaders. |
| In response, they announced plans to hold a Spring conference in Moscow, which analysts are viewing as a tacit admission that there will be no peace deal before US President George W Bush leaves office, as he had hoped. | In response, they announced plans to hold a Spring conference in Moscow, which analysts are viewing as a tacit admission that there will be no peace deal before US President George W Bush leaves office, as he had hoped. |
| By Spring, February's Israeli elections will have produced a new government and Mr Obama will be in office. | By Spring, February's Israeli elections will have produced a new government and Mr Obama will be in office. |
| I think for the new president coming in now, there is a great obligation obviously, but also a great opportunity Tony Blair, Middle East envoy class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7718667.stm">Blair urges Obama 'healing role' | |
| The Quartet's envoy, Tony Blair, said it was important that the incoming Obama administration "grips this issue from day one" and makes the Middle East an urgent priority. | The Quartet's envoy, Tony Blair, said it was important that the incoming Obama administration "grips this issue from day one" and makes the Middle East an urgent priority. |
| He told the BBC there was now "a platform on which to build - I wouldn't put it higher than that". | He told the BBC there was now "a platform on which to build - I wouldn't put it higher than that". |
| "I think for the new president coming in now, there is a great obligation obviously, but also a great opportunity," he said. | "I think for the new president coming in now, there is a great obligation obviously, but also a great opportunity," he said. |
| "And from all the conversations that I've had with Barack Obama over the past period, I'm sure that he treats this obligation and opportunity really seriously and wants to move it forward." | "And from all the conversations that I've had with Barack Obama over the past period, I'm sure that he treats this obligation and opportunity really seriously and wants to move it forward." |
| 'Substantial progress' | 'Substantial progress' |
| He went on to say a great deal of work needed to be done to reach a peace settlement but he insisted genuine progress was being made. | He went on to say a great deal of work needed to be done to reach a peace settlement but he insisted genuine progress was being made. |
| Tony Blair on the Middle East peace process | Tony Blair on the Middle East peace process |
| "You haven't had the peace deal, the peace agreement that everyone wanted to see by the end of this year," he said. | "You haven't had the peace deal, the peace agreement that everyone wanted to see by the end of this year," he said. |
| "What you have got, however, is a process that, as the Israelis and Palestinians explained today, they want to continue, where there has been substantial progress made, but where obviously we've going to have to do a lot more in order to bring it to fruition. | "What you have got, however, is a process that, as the Israelis and Palestinians explained today, they want to continue, where there has been substantial progress made, but where obviously we've going to have to do a lot more in order to bring it to fruition. |
| "But I think, at the very least, what you've got for the very first time is an agreed strategy between the international communities as to how we're going to resolve it." | "But I think, at the very least, what you've got for the very first time is an agreed strategy between the international communities as to how we're going to resolve it." |
| The core issues dividing the two sides include the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees. | The core issues dividing the two sides include the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees. |