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Middle East at 'critical moment' Middle East at 'critical moment'
(about 3 hours later)
The Middle East faces a "critical moment of decision", Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.The Middle East faces a "critical moment of decision", Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.
The next few days and weeks would be crucial for the future stability of the region, he said after talks in Turkey. Now in Cairo, Mr Blair also said it was important that the international community offered support to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Blair spoke as he began a Middle East tour aimed at kick-starting the Israeli and Palestinian peace process. He spoke after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in his continuing Middle East diplomacy tour.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for elections to be held soon to try to diffuse rising tensions between Hamas and Fatah. Mr Blair said the president needed help to build his authority and his ability to raise Palestinian living standards.
Mr Abbas spoke live on Palestinian TV after days of violence which have raised fears of civil war. We can't be constructive if that's the way they [Iran] are playing things Tony Blair
Hailing the president's call for early elections in the Palestinian territories, Mr Blair said: "What it shows is the desire of the Palestinian president to improve the lot of his people, who are suffering in a terrible way and have been for a long period of time."
He also said the president had worked hard to try to bring about a unity government.
President Abbas believes early elections may defuse rising tensions between Hamas and Fatah.
However, Mr Blair offered words of warning on the prospect of an increased role for Iran in the region.
He accused Iran of wanting to "derail" peace prospects and said it was "difficult to see" how it could be a constructive player in the region.
Bleak prospects
Mr Blair said: "It is up to Iran to decide. If Iran wants to reach out, we are there.
"But if what they are going to do is undermine the government in Iraq, the government in Lebanon, the Palestinian authority in Palestine, what can we do? We can't be constructive if that's the way they are playing things."
Speaking earlier in the Turkish capital Ankara, Mr Blair said nothing was more important in the Middle East and the rest of the world than the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.Speaking earlier in the Turkish capital Ankara, Mr Blair said nothing was more important in the Middle East and the rest of the world than the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
'Sense of urgency'
Referring to recent violence, Mr Blair said: "As you can see from the events of the last 24 hours, the next few days or weeks are a critical moment of decision for this whole process."Referring to recent violence, Mr Blair said: "As you can see from the events of the last 24 hours, the next few days or weeks are a critical moment of decision for this whole process."
We have just swapped the icy cold of the central Turkish plain for the dusty heat of north Africa BBC correspondent James Landale Middle East tour diaryWe have just swapped the icy cold of the central Turkish plain for the dusty heat of north Africa BBC correspondent James Landale Middle East tour diary
He believes the most important thing is to establish "a fully functioning authority" which will "start to create the structures on the Palestinian side that then allow a negotiation for peace with Israel to go forward".He believes the most important thing is to establish "a fully functioning authority" which will "start to create the structures on the Palestinian side that then allow a negotiation for peace with Israel to go forward".
Worsening violence was a reason for going there, not for staying away, he said.Worsening violence was a reason for going there, not for staying away, he said.
"If we don't get a new sense of urgency and movement in this situation, it will continue to go backwards and the suffering of the Palestinian people and the implications for the region and for the security of Israel are dreadful." Mr Blair added: "If we don't get a new sense of urgency and movement in this situation, it will continue to go backwards and the suffering of the Palestinian people and the implications for the region and for the security of Israel are dreadful."
The prime minister said he was a "strong supporter" of Turkey's bid to join the European Union, and said it could play an important role as part of an "arc of moderation" in the Muslim world and as a bridge between Europe and the region. Meanwhile, the prime minister also said he was a "strong supporter" of Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
"Turkey is placed right between the Middle East and Europe and if we needed no other reminder of the strategic importance of Turkey to the European Union it is what is happening in the Middle East today," he said. He said it could play an important role as part of an "arc of moderation" in the Muslim world and as a bridge between Europe and the region.
His counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he was committed to finding a solution to the conflict.His counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said he was committed to finding a solution to the conflict.
Mr Blair earlier praised Turkey's leadership and said the country's membership was also "of fundamental importance to the future of Europe". Mr Blair also praised Turkey's leadership and said the country's membership was also "of fundamental importance to the future of Europe".
He said he would like to see the establishment of direct flights between Britain and Turkish Northern Cyprus if this could be lawfully achieved. Mr Blair will also go to Israel, the Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates during his visit.
Suspending talks
Meanwhile, Mr Erdogan called the EU's decision to partially freeze talks with his country as a "great injustice".
Mr Blair has begun a tour of the Middle East
Mr Blair arrived in Turkey on Friday after attending a two-day EU summit in Brussels where the partial freeze was agreed.
EU foreign ministers 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.
But Mr Erdogan told the press conference his country was committed to reforms which would allow it entry into Europe.
Mr Blair has arrived for further talks in Cairo, Egypt, after leaving Turkey. He will also go to Israel, the Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates.