Palestinians to Blair: We want a state

(Video) Quartet envoy, Palestinian president discuss recent developments in territories, ways to advance peace process. 'We are not interested in talks or initiatives, but rather in mechanisms to implement all the ideas for the establishment of a Palestinian state,' says Saeb Erekat

Ali Waked
Published: 07.24.07, 13:58 / Israel News

VIDEO - Quartet envoy Tony Blair met Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. The Palestinian president said in a statement following the meeting that the two discussed the recent developments in the territories and the international Quartet's role in advancing the peace process in the region.

Shimon Peres, Tony Blair press conference (Video: Reuters)

The former British prime minister refused to answer reporters' questions at the end of the meeting.

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Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr Saeb Erekat said the meeting dealt with the need to establish a Palestinian state.

"We made it clear that we are no longer interested in talks, declarations or even initiatives. We are interested in the creation of mechanisms in order to implement all the ideas for the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Erekat addressed the claims regarding Blair's limited mandate, which state that his role is only limited to dealing with the economic aid to the Palestinian Authority and its institutions.

"The economic issue and the building of institutions are part of the overall diplomatic issue, and therefore one must not distinguish between the economic situation and the affects of issues such as the building of the fence and the settlements on the economic situation.

"What is needed, therefore, is a mechanism for the implementation of all the ideas as one in order to reach the goal, which is ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state in the 1967 borders."

After his meeting with Abbas, Blair also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. On Tuesday evening he is scheduled to meet over dinner with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

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