Envoys of the Mideast Quartet, grouping the United States, the
UN, European Union and Russia, wrapped up their meeting on Tuesday
after three-hour talks, but did not issue any statement, a UN
spokesman said.
Brenden Varma, a UN spokesman in Jerusalem, told Xinhua that
there was no press release or statement issued after the Quartet
envoy meeting.
Before the meeting, he said that the envoys had no set agenda
and would discuss recent developments and the way forward.
Meanwhile, local Ha'aretz reported that participants
left without speaking to the press, and that details on the talks
weren't immediately available.
The envoys, however, were expected to issue a statement later in
the day, the report said.
Earlier, British press said that the meeting was likely to name
outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as special Mideast
envoy.
"Blair's appointment has been 150 percent approved," the
Financial Times quoted a figure close to negotiations over Blair's
new role as saying.
"The Jerusalem meeting is all about arranging logistics, making
final arrangements and getting the announcement out," said the
daily.
The Quartet has been a major mediator between the Palestinians
and Israel.
Tuesday's meeting will be the first of its kind since Hamas
seized control of the Gaza Strip on June 14 after days of deadly
infighting with its rival Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud
Abbas.
As a result, the geographically-divided Palestinian territories
has been politically split into two parts -- with Hamas controlling
Gaza and Fatah holding the West Bank.
(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2007)
