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Use Iran and Syria for peace - PM Blair looking to Iran and Syria
(about 6 hours later)
Tony Blair is to call for dialogue with Iran and Syria in efforts to secure peace in Iraq and the Middle East. Tony Blair is to call for dialogue with Iran and Syria to secure peace in the Middle East, as Defence Secretary Des Browne says change is under way.
The UK prime minister believes the two states should be warned of the consequences of failing to help as part of a "whole" strategy for the region. The UK prime minister believes the two states should be warned of the consequences of failing to help.
In a major foreign policy speech in London he will also defend the UK's close relationship with the US.In a major foreign policy speech in London he will also defend the UK's close relationship with the US.
Earlier, the White House indicated it would consider talking to Iran and Syria about the future of Iraq. Mr Browne told the BBC change "has been under way for some time now" and denied it resulted from US political changes.
Mr Blair's address to the Lord Mayor's banquet at the Guildhall will "make clear to Syria and Iran the basis on which they can help the peaceful development of the Middle East rather than hinder it, and the consequences of not doing so", an aide said. "Our strategy has been adapting throughout the time because it covers both security and politics and because the political settlement indeed will be the enduring part of change in Iraq," Mr Browne told BBC Radio Four's Today programme.
And the prime minister will reiterate his belief that resolving the situation in Iraq requires action to deal with the region's other issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon. HAVE YOUR SAY There has to be dialogue with Syria and Iran Mark Littlewood , Cambridge href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4721&edition=1&ttl=20061113092611" class="">Send us your comments
Mr Blair will also say the only "British" foreign policy that could work is one based on "strong alliances". "And everyone agrees that you can't do this by military means alone.
"Throughout the conflict, for example, we've been calling on Iran and Syria to do more to stop the flow into Iraq of foreign fighters, bomb making equipment and know how - and we will continue to talk to all of Iraq's neighbours."
Asked if the change in policy was the result of the US mid-term elections last week, Mr Browne said: "Change has been under way for some time now and it distorts the reality to suggest that that change is predicated upon a change in American politics."
The White House has already indicated it would consider talking to Iran and Syria - previously described by President Bush as part of an "Axis of Evil" - about the future of Iraq.
Mr Blair will address the Lord Mayor's banquet at the Guildhall stressing the need to "make clear" to Syria and Iran how they can help make peace in the Middle East, an aide said.
And he will say that resolving the situation in Iraq requires action to deal with the region's other issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon.
He will add that the only British foreign policy that could work is one based on "strong alliances".
'With or against us'
"For that reason, our partnership with America and our membership of the EU are precisely suited to Britain," he will add.
"For that reason anti-Americanism or euroscepticism are not merely foolish, they are the surest route to the destruction of our true national interest."
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said political change in Washington meant Mr Blair's calls for a renewed effort for Middle East peace, might be listened to.
The US death toll in Iraq stands at more than 2,800 troopsThe US death toll in Iraq stands at more than 2,800 troops
"For that reason, our partnership with America and our membership of the EU are precisely suited to Britain. And he said there had been a move away from the language that "you are either with us or against us".
"For that reason anti-Americanism or Euro-scepticism are not merely foolish, they are the surest route to the destruction of our true national interest."
On Sunday four British servicemen were killed and three seriously injured in a bomb attack on a patrol boat in southern Iraq.On Sunday four British servicemen were killed and three seriously injured in a bomb attack on a patrol boat in southern Iraq.
On the same day, two suicide bombers killed 35 people and wounded 60 at a police commando recruiting centre in western Baghdad, police said.On the same day, two suicide bombers killed 35 people and wounded 60 at a police commando recruiting centre in western Baghdad, police said.
And the US military said three American soldiers were killed in combat in western Al-Anbar province.And the US military said three American soldiers were killed in combat in western Al-Anbar province.
US panel
In the US, White House chief-of-staff Josh Bolten said "a fresh approach" was needed on Iraq.In the US, White House chief-of-staff Josh Bolten said "a fresh approach" was needed on Iraq.
A US panel examining the country's strategy on Iraq, called the Iraq Study Group, is due to give its recommendations by the end of the year. Its Iraq Study Group is due to give its recommendations on US strategy in Iraq by the end of the year.
US panel
President George W Bush is meeting the panel on Monday, and Mr Blair will talk to it via video link on Tuesday.President George W Bush is meeting the panel on Monday, and Mr Blair will talk to it via video link on Tuesday.
The panel reportedly thinks that "staying the course" is an untenable long-term strategy, and is said to have been looking at two options.The panel reportedly thinks that "staying the course" is an untenable long-term strategy, and is said to have been looking at two options.
One is the phased withdrawal of US troops, and the other is to increase contact with Syria and Iran.One is the phased withdrawal of US troops, and the other is to increase contact with Syria and Iran.
'Naive' fear We have to make the most of our friendships... with the moderate Arab nations of the Middle East Shadow foreign secretary William Hague
A Downing Street spokeswoman said Mr Blair would ensure the members of the panel were "fully briefed on UK ideas" when he spoke to them.A Downing Street spokeswoman said Mr Blair would ensure the members of the panel were "fully briefed on UK ideas" when he spoke to them.
We have to make the most of our friendships... with the moderate Arab nations of the Middle East Shadow foreign secretary William Hague British officials had been in contact with the panel since it began, and the prime minister's intervention was "a natural extension of that", she said. British officials had been in contact with the panel since it began, and the prime minister's intervention was "a natural extension of that", she said.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague welcomed Mr Blair's engagement with the US panel, stressing the need for "heavy British involvement" in the reassessment of current thinking.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague welcomed Mr Blair's engagement with the US panel, stressing the need for "heavy British involvement" in the reassessment of current thinking.
But he told BBC News hopes of involving Iran and Syria in the short-term could prove "naive".But he told BBC News hopes of involving Iran and Syria in the short-term could prove "naive".
"We have to make the most of our friendships and build on our friendships with the moderate Arab nations of the Middle East," he said."We have to make the most of our friendships and build on our friendships with the moderate Arab nations of the Middle East," he said.