Tony Blair's Middle East role could be 'reconfigured'

[T_i_B]

Source: BBC

Tony Blair could get a new role in the Middle East amid reports that he is preparing to step back from his job as a peace envoy in the region.

The ex-prime minister has represented the Quartet - the US, EU, UN and Russia - since 2007 in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Financial Times said Mr Blair hoped to "reconfigure" the role but wanted to remain involved in the peace process.

The paper quoted US sources saying his current role was "no longer viable".

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31903653

[geek tragedy]

1. Tony Blair failing in a role as peacemaker. No one saw that coming. nt

[T_i_B]

2. Tony Blair 'had no credibility' in Middle East process, says US official

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/11474157/Tony-Blair-had-no-credibility-in-Middle-East-process-where-all-sides-would-roll-their-eyes-at-mention-him-says-US-official.html

Tony Blair had “no credibility” left with the parties in the Middle East peace process, a former US government official who was closely involved with trying to revive the talks last year has told The Telegraph.

“Frankly all sides just rolled their eyes at the mention of his name,” the official said as it was reported that Mr Blair was being “eased out” of his role as head of so-called Quartet.

“He showed up, but was not effective,” the senior former official added. “Honestly, when the Kerry negotiations were going on, it was like he’d wait until Kerry was going to be in the region and show up at the same time and then do press releases. It was sort of unseemly.”

“In the end the Israelis didn’t mind him, because he was heavily tilted towards them, but the Palestinians couldn’t stand him and most of the rest of the peace-making community and other groups included, just rolled their eyes.

[rpannier]

3. Heck-a-va job there Tony

In 7 years he's accomplished so much

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Former UK PM accused of seeking $45m UAE contract while working as peace envoy

Multi-million dollar deals with various states in the Middle East have helped Tony Blair amass a fortune thought to be worth an estimated $90m, claims a book published this month.
...
Tony Blair Associates, an umbrella organisation founded to coordinate the diplomat’s various consultancy groups, offered its services to the UAE’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a five-year commercial partnership.

A 25-document about the September 2014 deal obtained by the Sunday Times states that “there is nowhere in the world right now where we could not work or provide the necessary contacts either politically or commercially, should we want to”.

Blair has worked in partnership with various governments whose human rights records have been criticised by international monitors. In 2013, he offered public relations advice to the president of Guinea after security forces shot protesters during anti-government clashes, killing nine people.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/former-uk-pm-sought-45-million-contract-uae-while-working-middle-east-peace-envoy-1424313459#sthash.b4e5Bsbo.dpuf

[KoKo]

5. and there's more.....

He sounds like a true "Grifter."

Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP who has called for former prime ministers to be bound by tighter regulations, accused Blair of “relentlessly cashing in his contacts” while the Middle East is “on fire".

“This is damaging to Britain’s reputation, and he should now stand down as the Middle East peace envoy."

Blair’s office responded to the allegations by saying that the document was “out of date” and insisting that he would never engage in paid work that caused a conflict of interest with his work as peace envoy.

“The UAE is not a member of the Quartet. Tony Blair has undertaken other paid work in the Gulf, but not in respect of anything that is linked to what he does unpaid for the Quartet.”

The UAE does not recognise the state of Israel, one of the parties in the Quartet’s peace efforts, and the countries have no official diplomatic or economic ties.

However, a recent investigation by Middle East Eye revealed that an Israeli-owned company has become responsible for a huge surveillance system that protects critical infrastructure in the Gulf kingdom.

Blair’s other work with Gulf States includes a $40m four-year contract for consultancy work with the Emir of Kuwait and a deal to provide the government of Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate in the UAE, with “global strategic advice” at a cost of up to $1.5m a year.

According to Blair Inc, a book by Francis Beckett and David Hencke, to be released this month, he also arranged a covert contract in 2010 with Saudi oil company PetroSaudi.

The deal, according to the book, saw Blair arrange introductions to contacts in China, and was reportedly worth $60,000 a month. He also supposedly earned 2 percent commission on any deal resulting from the introductions.

Blair has also said he is "happy to help" Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, though he denies working as a formal advisor to Sisi’s government, which launched a military takeover of the country in 2013

.

- See more at: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/former-uk-pm-sought-45-million-contract-uae-while-working-middle-east-peace-envoy-1424313459#sthash.b4e5Bsbo.fJRX5Jpe.dpuf

[Jefferson23]

6. I will not ever trust this man. n/t

[Fred Sanders]

7. War criminal Tony Blair as "Peace Envoy". LOL.