Middle East Quartet to meet in Lisbon next week

By Axel Bugge

LISBON (Reuters) - The Quartet of Middle East mediators will meet in Lisbon on July 19 at what will be former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's first meeting as the group's envoy, the United Nations and European officials said on Friday.

The Quartet comprises the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend as will U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is on a visit to Portugal on that day.

"The meeting comes at a crucial moment and will be an opportunity to assess the recent events and discuss the way forward to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East," U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said at a news briefing.

She said the meeting would allow the Quartet to discuss with Blair how to help the Palestinian Authority to develop its institutions and economy.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said it would be the first opportunity for the Quartet to talk to Blair about his role as new envoy.

A Portuguese Foreign Ministry source said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov might also attend.

Blair was appointed by the Quartet on June 27 -- the day he left office after 10 years in power -- and his role was aimed at raising funds for the Palestinians, building their ruling institutions and promoting economic development.