Скачать или смотреть SAUDI ARABIA/EGYPT: TONY BLAIR SAYS MIDDLE EAST PEACE IS POSSIBLE

(19 Apr 1998) English/Nat

British Prime Minister Tony says peace can be achieved in the Middle East, but only if there is sufficient goodwill.

Fresh from diplomatic triumph in Northern Ireland, Blair was playing down expectations of his five-day visit to the Middle East.

Rather than big breakthroughs, he said he was seeking small steps toward peace.

Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh for the second day of his five-day trip to the Middle East.

Blair, accompanied by his wife Cherie, was greeted at the airport by Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz.

The prime minister told reporters that Britain hoped to take a larger role in the stalled Mideast peace process.

He said he also hoped his visit to Riyadh would give a boost to already friendly ties with Saudi Arabia.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"First of all, as part of the tour through the Middle East where we will try and play whatever part we can in assisting progress in the peace process, because I share the frustration of people at the lack of progress at the moment that is happening there. But secondly it's very important for Britain and Saudi Arabia to enjoy extremely close relations."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

Fresh from diplomatic triumph in Northern Ireland, Blair said that peace could be achieved in the Middle East, but only if the parties showed sufficient goodwill.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is so important for people to understand as we have learned in a sense from the process in Northern Ireland that if these processes don't move forward, they tend to move backwards. And it is so important to the stability of the Middle East and the stability of the world that this process succeeds. And obviously I will do everything I can to make progress happen."
SUPER CAPTION: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister

The Blairs arrived in Saudi Arabia from Cairo, where he held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other government officials.

The Blairs also took the time to view some of the capital's sites.

Blair is touring the Middle East as current president of the 15-nation European Union.

On Sunday, he will visit Israel and the Palestinian lands.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks stalled in March 1997, when the Israeli government began building a Jewish housing estate in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem.

Palestinian officials say they hope Blair will tackle some of the points of dispute but Israeli officials have said pressure from Blair to make major concessions to the Palestinians would be met with strong displeasure.

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