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Blair’s plea to Obama on W. Asia

LONDON: The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who is now the international community’s envoy to West Asia, has urged U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to take a “lead” in pushing forward the stalled peace process in the region.

Mr Blair, whose controversial support to President George W. Bush’s policies sparked intense anti-Americanism across Europe, described Mr. Obama as a “very smart guy” and said he could give a lead to the world on issues like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, climate change and poverty.

He declined to be drawn into comparing him with Mr. Bush saying that would “not be very fruitful,” but said: “There’s tremendous possibility for Obama to reach out and create a unifying agenda.”

In an interview to The Guardian, he said Mr. Obama’s election had opened up “an era of real possibility” in international relations, and especially in healing the U.S.-Europe rift.

He, however, warned that Mr. Obama would also make demands on Europe as his first priority would be to defend American interests.

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