A Banquet and After Dinner Speech

Again -and just in time after the American Congress votes - British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a significant speech - After dinner Speech:) - in London, dealing with major world affairs. He adresses a new Middle East Strategy with priority on developing this whole landscape.

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page10409.asp

Tony Blair has spelled out the importance of Britain's partnership with both America and Europe in a speech.

During the speech at the Guildhall in London, Mr Blair argued that a "whole" Middle East strategy is needed.

It should be made clear to Syria and Iran, he adds, on what basis they can help the peaceful development of the Middle East rather than hinder it - and the consequences of not doing so.

The banquet is held in honour of the immediate past Lord Mayor and is the first to be hosted by the new Lord Mayor of the City of London.

Traditionally, the Prime Minister makes a major world affairs speech after dinner.

See also this nice Video -Clip from Reuters about the After Dinner Speech:

http://today.reuters.com/tv/videoStory.aspx?isSummitStory=false&storyId=a87814004428e60b326387367a6c24e56a8e295f&WTmodLoc=%22Home-R2-Top+News-4

At the end of the speech Tony re-affirms Britains double partnership with Europe and America. Kudos to Tony for his strong and clear words...

And I see this necessity in the same way. Transatlantic partnership with North America AND new and fresh efforts with UK  as much as Continental Europe will be the key for Germany too.

."..  India is making extraordinary strides in every way.  But it, like China, will be a nation more than twice the size, in population, of the whole of Europe.

Let me put this delicately but firmly.  The world is changing.  New powers are emerging.  In the decades to come there will be many international negotiations, debates, occasionally, if only in a diplomatic sense, confrontations.  Britain in this early 21st Century world is a country with extraordinary strengths.  It is well and justifiably respected.  But it is also a country of 60 million people whose geography could fit neatly into a corner of Alaska.  We will need collective strength in the years ahead.  That strength is infinitely easier to generate, and more to our liking, if based on alliances with nations that share our values.  For that reason, our partnership with America and our membership of the EU are precisely suited to Britain.  For that reason, it would be insane, - yes I would put it as strongly as that - for us to give up either relationship.  For that reason anti-Americanism or Euroscepticism are not merely foolish they are the surest route to the destruction of our true national interest. 

Both alliances are founded in history.  Both are, however, now, at this point, utterly validated by the future.  These are no misty-eyed products of sentiment, relics of a bygone age to be taken out and cradled fondly..."

See also Tony`s remarkable interview with Washington Post here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/16/AR2006111601427.html

In this interview I heard for the very first time a top political leader from the West including the Arab Gulf States, fe. United Arab Emirates:

"You go to these Gulf states and you see the changes they're making in their democracy, the changes in their economy," the prime minister said, citing the United Arab Emirates as an example. "There is a way of moving forward in the Middle East that is about step-by-step greater democracy, opening up their economy and presenting themselves to the world in a modern and moderate light."

Blair Sees Chance For Progress on Middle East Conflict

Region Is Facing a 'Critical Moment'

By Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 17, 2006; Page A15


LONDON, Nov. 16 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday offered hope for progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that "sensible Arab and Muslim countries" now see "strategic reasons" for finding a solution and that new initiatives could come within weeks.

"This is an opportunity for us if we are prepared to seize it now," said Blair, citing leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan as among those who "want to make progress" on an issue he called the "crux" of problems in the Middle East.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in an interview that some Arab leaders now see reasons to solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Scott Barbour - AP)


Blair, in an interview with The Washington Post at his 10 Downing Street office, declined to provide specifics but said British officials were holding private talks with Middle Eastern governments as well as the Bush administration about measures "to move this forward."

The prime minister is also planning a trip in the next few weeks to the Middle East, which he said was facing a "critical moment."