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15/07/2008
Blair Cancels Gaza Visit
International envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair, has cancelled a planned visit to the Gaza Strip.
According to reports, a spokesperson said that the trip had been called off at the last minute due to a security threat.
UN officials in Gaza confirmed the cancellation of the trip. However, they said that Mr Blair still hoped to visit the region in the future.
Mr Blair had been due to meet UN officials and visit a water treatment plant during his visit, but had not been expected to meet with representatives from Hamas.
Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organisation by the EU, the US and Israel and their government in Gaza is not recognised by the international community.
Had Mr Blair's visit gone ahead, he would have been the highest-ranking international diplomat to visit the region since Hamas took control of it last year.
Mr Blair, the former British Prime Minister, was appointed as Middle East envoy by the Quartet of international mediators - the EU, the US, Russia and the UN - last June, the same month that Hamas seized control of Gaza.
His role is to focus on economic issues, in order to help improve chances of a possible peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr Blair had previously visited the Gaza Strip in 1998, when he was Prime Minister.
(KMcA/JM)
According to reports, a spokesperson said that the trip had been called off at the last minute due to a security threat.
UN officials in Gaza confirmed the cancellation of the trip. However, they said that Mr Blair still hoped to visit the region in the future.
Mr Blair had been due to meet UN officials and visit a water treatment plant during his visit, but had not been expected to meet with representatives from Hamas.
Hamas is regarded as a terrorist organisation by the EU, the US and Israel and their government in Gaza is not recognised by the international community.
Had Mr Blair's visit gone ahead, he would have been the highest-ranking international diplomat to visit the region since Hamas took control of it last year.
Mr Blair, the former British Prime Minister, was appointed as Middle East envoy by the Quartet of international mediators - the EU, the US, Russia and the UN - last June, the same month that Hamas seized control of Gaza.
His role is to focus on economic issues, in order to help improve chances of a possible peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr Blair had previously visited the Gaza Strip in 1998, when he was Prime Minister.
(KMcA/JM)
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