Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair met Tuesday in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in his new role as Mideast envoy for the Quartet, including the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.
Also included in the meeting was chief PA negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat, who told reporters after the meeting that "We are not interested in talks or initiatives, but rather in mechanisms to implement all the ideas for the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Blair arrived in Israel Monday after meeting first with Jordanian officials in Amman. He is expected to meet Tuesday evening with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, having met with President Shimon Peres earlier in the day.