Addressing the inaugural gathering of the Arab Council for Regional Integration, Tony Blair called for a new vision of integration and improved relations between Israel and the Arab world as a means to allow the parties to work towards reaching a Palestinian – Israeli peace agreement. Mr. Blair added that a developing Arab Israeli relationship can, should and must provide the crucial underpinning to any realistic possibility of enduring peace and the implementation of the two state solution.
In a first, the Arab Council for Regional Integration has brought together some 30 prominent civic actors from across the Arab world to promote the initiative for the region in which partnership knows no borders.