Tuesday 10 July 2007

Loose Cannon

Ten foreign ministers of the Mediterranean countries of the European Union (those of Italy, France, Spain , Portugual, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Malta, Romania, and Slovenia) have published an open letter to Blair in his capacity as envoy for the Quartet to the Middle East.

The letter speaks of their appreciation of his 'imagination', but of their understanding of the near insuperable difficulties. It tells 'caro Tony' that while he has been allowed the extraordinary privilege to help make possible a peace for Israel and Palestine, every day of his mission he should know that he can can count on their support.

Their support is offered after an extensive review of policy choices and recommended undertakings. It tells Blair plainly that the era of the Road Map is over; and it asserts the importance of the role of Saudi Arabia, Jordan , Syria, Egypt, and the Emirates, as well as that of the European Union. The whole text is in yesterday's Repubblica.

The first fruits of the Berlin agreements and the unity generated by ill -thought out Labour 'oppositionism' are here. It would be better were Blair still safely ensconced in Downing Street not loosed upon what is none of his business so that Brown and Labour can enjoy their interregnum.

4 comments:

Newmania said...

What is the " Quartet" in this context HG..( sorry a bit think I know ).

I see that elsewhere in the world the fact hat we no longer have an independent foreign Policy is taken as read

hatfield girl said...

Very nervous about posting on the Middle East, N, because so many know so much more.

But after looking quite carefully in the papers this morning, nothing seemed to be offered on what struck me as quite an assertion of authority and declaration of intent towards Blair and whatever he pretends to.

I haven't come over Laurence Durrell, the Quartet are: UN, USA, EU and the Russian Federation.

Mr C., he's the man on this kind of thing.

Newmania said...

Prefer Gerald myself .I do like it that you have read a lot of things I have though.

hatfield girl said...

Repubblica today is reporting a chilly response to the letter from the US who 'reaffirm their support in the Road Map', and a curious response from the Eu via their High Representative's office, that the letter didn't reach them till Monday morning - hard to believe that 10 EU foreign ministers were publishing open letters to the Quartet's 'envoy' and Solana, who is the Quartet EU representative, didn't know about it.