By NNN-WAM
Abu Dhabi : Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met here with Tony Blair, Representative of the Middle East Peace Quartet, who is currently visiting the UAE.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and Blair discussed the current efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. They also exchanged views on issues of common concern.
Sheikh Abdullah welcomed Blair's appointment as the Quartet's Middle East peace envoy and wished him success in his mission.
"Mr Blair is enormously capable of handling such a mission, given his personal skills and abilities," Sheikh Abdullah said.
He stressed the importance of exerting more efforts to achieve comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East and enabling the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate rights by establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
"The time is ripe for developing a real mechanism to bring about peace in the region."
Blair briefed Sheikh Abdullah on the talks he had with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister.
The meeting was attended by Rashid Hareb Al Falahi, Director of the Foreign Minister's Office and Edward Anthony Oakden, the British Ambassador.