Middle East negotiators to meet Blair in Lisbon

The key international Middle East mediators known as the Quartet will confer with Tony Blair for the first time next week in his new role as their representative in efforts to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the UN said today.

Top officials from the Quartet – the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia – will meet on July 19 in Lisbon, Portugal, UN deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.