Tony Blair Associates

File:Hashim Thaci - Tony Blair with Declaration of Independence of Kosovo.jpg and Tony Blair with Declaration of Independence of Kosovo]]

Blair, with his Quartet and TBA roles, worked with the Kazakh government, advising the regime on judicial, economic and political reforms.{{r|s20120923}}

In June 2014, Blair was looking for an office Abu Dhabi to help attract middle-eastern business for TBA. By July, Blair had been hired to advise on the export of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe, a project being run by a consortium of companies led by BP.{{r|tbaft}}

Blair was subjected to criticism for potential conflicts of interest between his diplomatic role as a Middle East peace envoy and his work with Tony Blair Associates,[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/8787053/Tony-Blairs-Byzantine-world-of-advisers-and-lucrative-deals.html Tony Blair's Byzantine world of advisers and lucrative deals] The Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2011[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/8784596/On-the-desert-trail-of-Tony-Blairs-millions.html On the desert trail of Tony Blair's millions] The Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2011[http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-102/episode-1 The Wonderful World of Tony Blair] and a number of prominent critics even called for him to be sacked from his peace envoy role.{{Cite news |title = An appeal to the Quartet on the Middle East to sack Tony Blair |url = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/24/appeal-to-quartet-on-middle-east-sack-tony-blair |date = 24 June 2014 |work = theguardian.com |accessdate = 2 July 2014 }}

Blair was subject to criticism after accusations of "whitewashing" the image and human rights record of the regime in Kazakhstan.{{r|s20120923}} In particular, opposition activists published an open letter in a Kazakh newspaper, Respublika, claiming Blair would have "blood on his hands" if he did not stop assisting President Nursultan Nazarbayev.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Blair responded to such criticism by saying his choice to advise the country was an example of how he could "nudge controversial figures on a progressive path of reform" and stated that he received no personal profit from this advisory role.{{cite news|last=Nicholas|first=Watts|title=How Tony Blair paved way for first visit by serving British PM to Kazakhstan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/30/tony-blair-pave-way-kazakhstan|accessdate=7 September 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=30 June 2013}} The Kazakhstan foreign minister said that the country was "honoured and privileged" to be receiving advice from Blair.{{cite web|first=Nicholas |last=Watt|date=30 June 2013|title=Kazakhstan praises Cameron and Blair for helping improving country's image|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/30/kazakhstan-cameron-blair-human-rights|publisher=theguardian.com|accessdate=1 July 2013}}{{cite web|first=Steven |last=Swinford|date=30 June 2013|title=Oil-rich Kazakhstan dictatorship boasts of British support|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10150976/Oil-rich-Kazakhstan-dictatorship-boasts-of-British-support.html|publisher=telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=1 July 2013}}

Blair was reported to have accepted a business advisory role with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, a situation deemed incompatible with his role as Middle East peace envoy;{{r|g20140701}} Blair described the report as "nonsense".{{r|nonsense}}

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{Cite news |last = Milne |first = Seumas |authorlink = Seumas Milne |date = 2 July 2014 |title = Tony Blair to advise Egypt president Sisi on economic reform |url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/02/tony-blair-advise-egypt-president-sisi-economic-reform |work = theguardian.com |accessdate = 2 July 2014 }}

{{cite web|last1=Chazan|first1=Guy|title=Tony Blair to advise on Azerbaijan gas project|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/28b699ae-0d9f-11e4-815f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz39FQPVOjC|website=www.ft.com|publisher=Financial Times|accessdate=2 August 2014}}

{{cite web|title=Tony Blair’s (Private) Interests in The Secret World of Oil|url=http://www.versobooks.com/blogs/1636-tony-blair-s-private-interests-in-the-secret-world-of-oil|publisher=Verso|accessdate=30 May 2015}}

{{Cite news |author = Haaretz staff |date = 3 July 2014 |title = Tony Blair denies he signed on as Egyptian president's adviser |url = http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.602689 |work = haaretz.com |accessdate= 3 July 2014 }}

{{cite news |last1= Kerbaj |first1= Richard |author-link=Richard Kerbaj|last2= Ungoed-Thomas |first2= Jon |last3= Fortson |first3= Danny |date= 23 September 2012 |title= Blair in £16m deal with Kazakhs |url= http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/People/article1132117.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130921063513/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/People/article1132117.ece |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 21, 2013 |newspaper= The Sunday Times |accessdate=24 September 2012 }}

}}

{{Tony Blair}}

Category:Tony Blair