‘Blair to step down as Mideast envoy’ he should have been sacked years ago

‘Blair to step down as Mideast envoy’

A report says former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to step down from his controversial role as a Middle East envoy amid a diplomatic impasse and concerns over his business interests.

The report, published by the British Financial Times, on Sunday said several senior diplomats have reportedly suggested that Blair is preparing to resign as an envoy for the so-called Quartet – consisting of the US, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and Russia.

One unnamed diplomat said Blair’s departure was “long overdue,” as “he has been ineffective in this job. He has no credibility in this part of the world.”

The report said that Blair met with US Secretary of State John Kerry on March 14 during a trip to the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheik to discuss a possible change in his role. He has also reportedly met with the European Union (EU)’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

According to the senior diplomats, the report said, Blair is keen on remaining a part of the so-called peace process in the Middle East, however, he is reportedly being “eased out” of his job at the Quartet.

Blair was appointed as envoy for the Quartet in 2007 following a request from the administration of then US President George W. Bush after the former resigned as British prime minister.

The report comes amid concerns about a potential for a conflict between his role as an envoy and his business interests as he advises a number of foreign governments, including those of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbeyev.

Among the other clients of Blair are PetroSaudi, a company jointly founded by Saudi Prince Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud and Saudi businessman Tarek Obaid, an Abu Dhabi wealth fund and US banking giant JP Morgan Mubadala.

In January, a group of British lawmakers launched a campaign to force Blair to reveal his finances due to his earnings of millions from foreign states.

In addition, a group of former British ambassadors and political figures called last June for Blair to be sacked as the UK’s Middle East envoy, citing, among other things, his “blurring the lines between his public position as envoy” and his private business dealings in the region.

The group also said Blair’s achievements as the Quartet’s envoy have been negligible and stated that he was seeking to please the Israelis.

Blair’s office did not immediately reply to requests from British media for comments.