Mr Tony Blair renewed pressure for the revival of the Middle East peace process in a speech to the Lord Mayor's Banquet in London last night, arguing the case for engagement against isolationism.
Against the backdrop of fresh American tragedy, and the terror attacks of September 11th, the British Prime Minister said: "The illusion has been shattered that we can have the good life in the West irrespective of the state of the rest of the world."
Mr Blair urged the first steps toward mutual confidence and security on both sides in the Middle East - action by the Palestinian Authority against suspected terrorists, and Israeli withdrawal from Area A - in preparation for negotiations around two fixed principles: the emergence of a viable Palestinian state; and full acceptance of the State of Israel by Arab neighbours.
Mr Blair also spoke of possible new relationships with countries such as Syria and Iran if they would "work with us to stop the violence" and promote a solution "just" to Israelis and Palestinians alike, and also join the international consensus on weapons of mass destruction. "There can be a new beginning to their relationship with the West. The opening is there. I hope they will take it," he said.
Mr Blair went to the Guildhall after a 25-minute conversation with President Bush in which he expressed Britain's sympathy to the President and the American people, and during which the two leaders reviewed the progress of the war in Afghanistan. Following earlier talks with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr Blair said the rebel Northern Alliance and the international coalition had made "very significant gains".
Mr Blair expressed confidence that Northern Alliance forces would comply with the coalition's request and not enter the Afghan capital of Kabul. With the rebel troops positioned on the outskirts of the city, Mr Blair was asked if they might now sweep forward to claim the capital despite the coalition's commitment to establish a broadly-based alternative government in the country. He said: "As people speaking for the Northern Alliance have made clear, it is not their intention to do that ."
Mr Blair praised the Indian government "for the strength of their role in the international coalition" while avoiding taking sides in the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Condemning last month's massacre in the state capital Srinagar, Mr Blair said: "The British government's position hasn't changed. All we want is to see tensions in the area reduced."
Mr Blair, who visited New Delhi briefly on a recent international tour, confirmed he had accepted an invitation to visit India early in the New Year. Mr Vajpayee stressed his belief that the war against terrorism must be extended beyond the al Qaeda network. In clear reference to Pakistan, he said: "We have to go beyond al Qaeda in our global war against terrorism and target all sponsors who finance, train, equip and harbour terrorists." Mr Vajpayee welcomed the placement of six Sikh and Muslim separatist groups on a British government list of proscribed organisations and also the anti-terrorist measures being introduced to the British parliament today.
A derogation order giving Britain an opt-out from the European Convention on Human Rights was laid before parliament yesterday and takes effect today paving the way for legislation to enable the indefinite detention of foreign terrorist suspects. The new law, expected to be on the statute book before Christmas, will empower the Home Secretary to intern foreign nationals suspected of involvement in international terrorism, with six-monthly reviews of their cases to be conducted by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
The Father of the House of Commons, Mr Tam Dalyell, said: "If there is information about sleepers or others, and that some catastrophe could be avoided by this measure, that is alright. But what I really fear is that internment could spill over into some kind of confrontation with Islam in this country and could make the situation worse, not better."