THE Envoy for the Quartet on the Middle East, Tony Blair, has called for the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to be more openly discussed. The possibility of delaying elections should be considered, in order to give longer for the newer democratic parties to be established, the former British Prime Minister told The Guardian late on Friday. Of the Brotherhood, liable to benefit from early elections, Blair said: "The important thing is that we are working with modern democratic people who believe that with the freedom to vote comes freedom of expression and freedom of religion. “Some parts of the Muslim Brotherhood would be happy with that, and some would not that is why you have got to engage with everyone. But it is a real issue and you have got to bring it to the surface and be prepared to talk about it, and not think just because they have democracy that is enough in itself." Parliamentary elections in Egypt are due in September and a presidential poll is to be held some weeks later. As Envoy to the Quartet, Blair believes the crisis in the region created by the Arab Spring could become an opportunity to restart peace talks.
