28/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso telephoned outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair who, on 27 June, was appointed the Quartet's (EU, Russia, US, and UN) Special Representative on the Middle East. Mr Barroso congratulated Mr Blair on his appointment and assured him of the Commission's support in his difficult task, said the Commission's spokesman. At its meeting on Wednesday, Mr Blair's mandate was defined thus: - mobilise international assistance to the Palestinians, working closely with donors and existing coordination bodies; - help to identify, and secure appropriate international support in addressing, the institutional governance needs of the Palestinian state, focusing as a matter of urgency on the rule of law; - develop plans to promote Palestinian economic development, including private sector partnerships, building on previously agreed frameworks, especially concerning access and movement; - and liaise with other countries as appropriate in support of the agreed Quartet objectives. In London on Thursday, Mr Blair announced that he would take up his post “immediately” and would probably visit the region in July. He said in the British press that he had to prepare the ground for a negotiated resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the key to that was to prepare the Palestinians for building a state. (hb)