WEST BANK: Tony Blair visits Jenin to inspect security situation q

Record ID: 563180

  • Title: WEST BANK: Tony Blair visits Jenin to inspect security situation q
  • Date: 7th October 2008
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BLAIR INSIDE A CLASSROOM TALKING TO STUDENTS SIGN READING "SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION - BUILDING DONE BY NEAR EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES"
  • Embargoed: 22nd October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEB3O4HIXETQJ6S1TBHQZ190D4
  • Story Text: Middle East envoy Tony Blair visits the West Bank city of Jenin to monitor economic development and progress in security.
    Middle East envoy Tony Blair visited the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday (October 7) and said it was important for both security and economic progress to be made in the city.

    "As far as I am concerned as the representative of the international community, the Quartet here, that I will do everything that I can to make sure we now get the economic, the social, the great security progress, and also of course the political progress that we need to see,"
    said Blair.
    Hundreds of Abbas's forces were deployed to Jenin earlier this year in a U.S.-backed security push Washington hopes will show the Palestinians can rein in militants, which is Israel's main condition for Palestinian statehood.
    The governor of the city, Qadura Musa, was proud to show the new investment areas, which will encourage the exchange of goods between the Palestinian territories, Israel and Jordan.

    "It is clear that security has been brought to the entire district of Jenin district, to 89 villages, the city and refugee camps. Now we are looking forward to the start of economic development, which is firstly the entrance of the Arabs of 1948 to Jenin in their cars and vehicles. And also, the opening of the industrial area," Musa said in news conference at the Jenin governor's office.
    Last month the international community was accused by a group of leading NGOs of "losing its grip" on the Middle East peace process and failing to improve the appalling living conditions for Palestinians.
    The international Quartet - consisting of the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - was accused of creating a "vacuum of leadership" as the aid agencies complain that "visible progress" in the Middle East has "failed to materialise".
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