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Cathy Ashton and Tony Blair meet with Israeli PM ahead of next Quartet meeting
Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 in Office of Tony Blair, Office of the Quartet Representative
European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton and Quartet Representative Tony Blair met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday ahead of next month’s Quartet meeting in Washington DC.
The Quartet – which is made up of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - are scheduled to meet with Tony Blair on July 11th. The meeting will look at ways to build on US President Barack Obama’s speech of May 19th to provide a framework for the parties to return to negotiations.
Last month, the Quartet voiced strong support for President Obama's outline for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
"The Quartet agrees that moving forward on the basis of territory and security provides a foundation for Israelis and Palestinians to reach a final resolution of the conflict through serious and substantive negotiations and mutual agreement on all core issues," they said in a statement at the time.
Earlier in the day, Tony Blair met with the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Cooperation Silvan Shalom to discuss the Quartet Representative’s programme of work to support Palestinian state-building.
In the meeting, Tony Blair also said that the last few years have seen a significant improvement in tourism infrastructure in the West Bank, which have helped development and economic growth in the area.
The Allenby crossing has been upgraded and the opening hours have been extended, as in the Tarkumiya crossing. The upgrading of the Jalameh crossing has allowed thousands of cars belonging to Arab-Israelis, as well as the crossing of tourist buses and Palestinian labourers and goods into Jenin. The two agreed to continue to work on the upgrading of the crossings.
Minister Shalom also told Tony Blair the international community must apply pressure for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit, who has been held for almost five years, with no information about the conditions of his incarceration, no visits and in inhumane conditions. Mr Blair agreed and repeated his call for Gilad Shalit's release and told Minister Shalom he would update him on any developments.
