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| Blair to set out Middle East hope | Blair to set out Middle East hope |
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| Tony Blair is expected to outline his hopes for progress in the Middle East peace process while on the first leg of a visit to the region. | Tony Blair is expected to outline his hopes for progress in the Middle East peace process while on the first leg of a visit to the region. |
| The UK prime minister began his tour in Turkey where he held talks with his counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and they will address reporters later. | The UK prime minister began his tour in Turkey where he held talks with his counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and they will address reporters later. |
| Mr Blair views Turkey as crucial to peace in the Middle East and supports their European Union membership bid. | Mr Blair views Turkey as crucial to peace in the Middle East and supports their European Union membership bid. |
| His tour is aimed at kick-starting the Israeli and Palestinian peace process. | |
| On Friday Mr Blair said it was of "immense strategic importance" for Britain and Europe that momentum was restored to efforts to find a solution of the conflict. | On Friday Mr Blair said it was of "immense strategic importance" for Britain and Europe that momentum was restored to efforts to find a solution of the conflict. |
| Aides said the prime minister would use the trip to explore the possibilities for "unbarring the door" to progress in the peace process, which he is understood to see as the key for a wider resolution of tensions in the region as a whole, including Iraq. | Aides said the prime minister would use the trip to explore the possibilities for "unbarring the door" to progress in the peace process, which he is understood to see as the key for a wider resolution of tensions in the region as a whole, including Iraq. |
| Turkey is important in terms of its influence and its connections within the Middle East Tony Blair's spokesman | Turkey is important in terms of its influence and its connections within the Middle East Tony Blair's spokesman |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "This is about getting momentum, stepping up a gear to try to get things moving on Israel [and] Palestine. | Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "This is about getting momentum, stepping up a gear to try to get things moving on Israel [and] Palestine. |
| "Part of that is exploring the choice which really confronts Palestine, first of all, which is how do they actually move from the status quo to the reality of trying to get a Palestinian state established?" | "Part of that is exploring the choice which really confronts Palestine, first of all, which is how do they actually move from the status quo to the reality of trying to get a Palestinian state established?" |
| Although no major breakthrough is expected during Mr Blair's visit, the UK will aim to play a "facilitating and helpful role" in establishing a sense of direction about what the next steps in the peace process might be, the spokesman said. | Although no major breakthrough is expected during Mr Blair's visit, the UK will aim to play a "facilitating and helpful role" in establishing a sense of direction about what the next steps in the peace process might be, the spokesman said. |
| When Mr Blair arrived in the country, his spokesman said: "Turkey is important in terms of its influence and its connections within the Middle East as a whole and therefore the influence it can bring to bear on Israel/Palestine." | When Mr Blair arrived in the country, his spokesman said: "Turkey is important in terms of its influence and its connections within the Middle East as a whole and therefore the influence it can bring to bear on Israel/Palestine." |
| Suspending talks | Suspending talks |
| Mr Blair arrived in Turkey on Friday after attending a two-day EU summit in Brussels. | Mr Blair arrived in Turkey on Friday after attending a two-day EU summit in Brussels. |
| The Brussels summit approved a partial freeze on Turkey's entry into the EU. | The Brussels summit approved a partial freeze on Turkey's entry into the EU. |
| EU foreign ministers have decided to suspend accession talks with Turkey on eight of the 35 areas that candidates are required to complete. | EU foreign ministers have decided to suspend accession talks with Turkey on eight of the 35 areas that candidates are required to complete. |
| It follows Turkey's refusal to open its sea and air ports to EU member Cyprus, under a customs union pact it signed with the bloc last year. | It follows Turkey's refusal to open its sea and air ports to EU member Cyprus, under a customs union pact it signed with the bloc last year. |
| But Mr Blair has been a strong supporter of Turkish EU membership describing it as being "in the interests of Europe, in the interests of Britain and in the interests of Turkey". | But Mr Blair has been a strong supporter of Turkish EU membership describing it as being "in the interests of Europe, in the interests of Britain and in the interests of Turkey". |