UAE welcomes Blair's appointment

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has welcomed the appointment of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Middle East peace envoy.

In a statement issued yesterday, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, expressed hope that Blair's appointment would give a real boost to the stumbling peace process in the region.

He said the UAE considers the assignment of Blair as an indication of the Mideast Quartet's intention to refresh the peace process in line with the Arab peace initiative and the UN resolutions, with the aim of establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Shaikh Abdullah pointed out that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has also welcomed Blair's appointment.