LOC09:57
06:57 GMT
The Special Envoy of the international Quartet on the Middle East Tony Blair
CAIRO, Sept 7 (KUNA) -- The Special Envoy of the international Quartet on the Middle East, Tony Blair, started on Sunday a day-long visit to Egypt to discuss regional issues namely prospects of establishing viable peace in the troubled Middle east.
Official security sources said Blair was expected to hold talks with senior officials on the stalled Middle East peace process and the recently-enforced truce in Gaza strip, following bitter fighting between Palestinian factions and Israeli military forces encircling the enclave.
The recent war on Gaza, along with fresh reports about Israel's further seizure of Palestinians lands in the West bank, has deepened doubts about chances of jump-starting the war-marred peace process.
The Quartet on the Middle East or Middle East Quartet, which comprises four super powers and the United Nations, has been tasked with mediation efforts to try resolve the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Its members are the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia. The group was established in Madrid in 2002, following the Madrid Conference of 1991, that had resulted in some compromises between the Israelis and the Palestinians. (end)
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