Russians Drag Their Feet and Delay Blair’s Appointment as Middle East Special Envoy
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Western powers struggled on Tuesday to finalize a role for outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair as Middle East envoy in their bid to revive peace prospects after Islamist Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip.

A statement from the so-called Quartet mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- was delayed until at least Wednesday by Russian foot-dragging, diplomats said. Deal to name Blair as envoy delayed (More)

Mark Alexander

Middle East Due to Get More than Enough of the Man Middle Easterners Love to Hate

Photo of Tony Blair courtesy of The Times

TIMESONLINE: Tony Blair’s nomination for the post of international envoy in the Middle East is likely to be confirmed as early as today despite grumbles from Europe and last-minute wrangles over his job description.

Sources in London and Washington indicated yesterday that the announcement will be made if agreement is reached between the so-called “Quartet” of powers – America, Europe, Russia and the United Nations – which oversee the Middle East peace process.

Mr Blair’s nomination has been pushed by Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, and – to a lesser extent – the White House, in behind-the-scenes negotiations over recent months. Blair set to clinch job as world’s man in the Middle East (more) By Tom Baldwin in Washington, Greg Hurst and Philip Webster

THE GUARDIAN:
Odds stacked against Blair mission

Mark Alexander

One Cock Up After the Other
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The Bush administration is considering appointing outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as special envoy for the Middle East Quartet. If only they had told the Europeans.

It might seem like a basic principle of diplomacy to let your allies know before you nominate someone to represent them. However this appears to not have been the case with the Bush administration's reported backing of Tony Blair to be the Middle East Quartet's special envoy for Palestinian governance (more...).

According to information obtained by DER SPIEGEL, the Foreign Ministry in Berlin had not been informed of plans to nominate Blair for the post -- even though German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier currently represents the EU in the Quartet. Germany currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Blair is a controversial choice for the position, given his role in the Iraq war and his close relationship to Bush, and he is unpopular in much of the Middle East. Politicians in both Berlin and Brussels fear that Blair would be an unacceptable go-between for many Arabs. Europeans Skeptical about Blair as Mideast Envoy (more)

Mark Alexander

Unease in Many Quarters About Blair’s Appointment as International Envoy for the Middle East
FINANCIAL TIMES: Tony Blair’s appointment as an international envoy for the Middle East looks set to be formally agreed on Tuesday – a day before he leaves office – amid signs that the move is causing deep unease in some quarters.

Representatives of the four parties that comprise the “Quartet” on the Middle East – the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States –- will gather in Jerusalem on Tuesday at a specially convened meeting that will confirm Mr Blair as the Quartet’s new envoy, the FT has learnt. Blair set for Mideast envoy role (more) By James Blitz

Mark Alexander