"

Blair to "intensify" work on Mideast peace - Clinton

Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:14pm GMT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Middle East envoy Tony Blair will "intensify" his work with U.S. negotiator George Mitchell to broker peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.

The former British prime minister represents the "quartet" of Middle East negotiators made up of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

"Tony Blair, as the Quartet representative, will intensify his partnership with Senator Mitchell in support of the political negotiations," Clinton said in a statement after speaking with Blair.

Clinton, reiterating Washington's commitment to finding a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Blair would work to help lay the groundwork for a future Palestinian state and to "improve freedom of movement and access" for Palestinians.

She said he would also coordinate with Mitchell to encourage more private-sector investment and improve the living conditions of the people in Gaza.

The United States has proposed circumventing a dispute preventing the resumption of talks, stalled for more than a year since a war in Gaza, by reconvening in the form of "proximity talks" on an indirect basis, under closer U.S. mediation.

Israel has agreed to the formula but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will announce a decision after hearing answers to some questions he has put to Washington.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, visiting Tokyo with Abbas this week, said the proximity talks should focus on border issues and their timeframe should be limited to a maximum of three to four months.

More . . .

"