Associated Press, January 26, 2007

BLAIR: WORLD MUST STAY COMMITTED TO IRAQ

[Rachel's introduction: "The fact is, just on the precautionary principle, it'd be sensible to act. And the truth is, if we don't act, and in a way that binds the main countries in... longterm prospects are bleak at best, and potentially disastrous." -- Tony Blair]

By John Daniszewski, Associated Press

Davos, Switzerland -- Making his third and last appearance at the annual World Economic Forum here as Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair says he has come because it is important for the world to act collectively to tackle problems -- and he does not mind the criticism at home.

In an interview with The Associated Press, he highlighted themes he would like to be remembered for: Africa, climate change and world trade. And he warned that the world must not shirk from its commitment to achieve success in Iraq, nor be discouraged by the "terrible pictures" it sees of violence in the country.

He backed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government in Iraq and President Bush 's immediate plans to increase troops there. He said he believes the Iraqi prime minister can meet the benchmarks the United States has set.

Blair was interviewed fresh from a speech appealing for greater help for Africa -- a session where his friend and political ally U2 musician Bono also appeared. Seated in an easy chair, he was chatting with Microsoft Corp. chairman and co-founder Bill Gates when reporters arrived.

His official spokesman had said earlier in the day that Blair's main goals for the conference were to rally momentum on the long-stalled Doha round of World Trade Organization talks and seek progress toward an agreement on a climate stabilization goal ahead of June's Group of Eight summit in Germany.

In an interview for the GMTV Sunday program on Friday, a Labour former minister, Frank Dobson, said Blair's influence is on the wane and there was no point in his going to Davos.

Blair chuckled when he heard about the criticism, and leaned in toward his questioner.

He missed seeing David Cameron, the youthful British opposition Conservative leader seeking to oust Blair's Labour Party from office. Cameron left Davos Friday having attended two sessions. Brown was also at Davos on Friday, but it was not clear if he and Blair had met.

Blair, who has said he will leave office this year, said that the world is already in a climate crisis and that he expects progress on global trade talks. "It'd be a fantastic thing for poor countries, but also good for us."

"The fact is, just on the precautionary principle, it'd be sensible to act. And the truth is, if we don't act, and in a way that binds the main countries in... longterm prospects are bleak at best, and potentially disastrous."

"The values that underpin all of these issues are the same values, which are about protecting our environment and justice for people, making sure that we create a world that is open and free for people to create the prosperity that they want and that is prepared to work with each other to take on global challenges. And that is my message really -- that we work in an interdependent world."

Blair said that the world shares certain values, "and the key thing is to turn that intent and purpose into action."

On trade talks, Blair said he was cautiously optimistic, because of the hard work that has been done in the last few weeks in discussions with Bush, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"I think we are prepared to move to make the compromises necessary to get this done in the greater good of all of us," he said.

An agreement on trade would be "fantastic" for the poorest nations, he said. "But it would also be a great thing for us, for the wealthy countries, because it would open new markets to our goods and services."

In Iraq, Blair said the important thing now is to support the Iraqi government in its fight against the violence, "which is being perpetrated by a small number of people against the wishes and the will of the majority."

He disputed that the violence there is a civil war "with blocs of people fighting each other. This is a small minority... often bolstered by outside extremists."

"The one thing that was very clear when I was in Iraq before Christmas was that if you talk to not just Iraqi leaders there, but, interestingly, talking to my own soldiers and people we have in Iraq, they will tell you the majority of people there want to live a peaceful life."

In any case, "What mustn't happen is a situation where as a result of terrorist activity designed to kill innocent people and the impact those terrible pictures make, that we lose our determination to stand up to these people and defeat them."

Asked whether Britain had offered only faint support for Bush's plan to increase troop strength in and around Baghdad, Blair replied, "No, we've got a very strong support of what we're doing in Iraq because it's essential to sustain the government. It is the first democratic government in Iraq, elected by 12 million people."

Blair would not say what he intends to do when he leaves office. "Do you think even if I had decided I would tell you? Actually, I am just getting on with the job as a matter of fact. The thing about this job is that there are new challenges and new decisions you have to face up to everyday so it is quite enough to keep you occupied."

His future is "something that will take care of itself in time," he said. "The thing is to make sure that in the time I am prime minister that I can get progress on the issues that I am passionate about, of which Africa, climate change and world trade are three."

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