Quartet Mideast envoy Tony Blair believes if both sides are willing to enter into talks; a regional peace agreement can be achieved within a year.

Blair believes that if Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) are willing to make the commitment, the determination of US President Barak Obama can indeed result in a deal within a year. Blair stressed in his interview with al-Jazeera that both sides must indeed be committed to the two-state solution.

Blair believes that President Obama�s address from Cairo was a major event, and it was followed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu�s Bar Ilan address, explaining the picture is indeed more optimistic than many believe.

The Quartet is composed of the United States, United Nations, Russia and the European Union.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)