Tony Blair’s appointment as new envoy for Middle East Quartet

“The appointment of Tony Blair promises a renewed and strengthened engagement by the Quartet,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre. 

The International Quartet on the Middle East (composed of the UN, the EU, Russia and the US) announced on 27 June that it had appointed Mr Blair as its envoy. 

“I would encourage Mr Blair to give priority to building up and strengthening the Palestinian institutions, as well as to rebuilding the Palestinian economy. As Chair of the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for international development assistance to the Palestinian people (AHLC), Norway looks forward to close cooperation with the Quartet’s envoy. 

“Blair should also focus on improving the situation in Gaza, and on promoting long-term solutions that stabilise the entire Palestinian Territory,” said Mr Støre.