Russia says backs Blair as new West Asia envoy

MOSCOW, June 27 (Reuters) - Russia said today it would back former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a West Asia East envoy if other members of the Quartet of West Asia mediators agreed on him.

''If the entire quartet is for, we will hail Tony Blair's contribution to efforts to stabilise the situation on Palestinian territories,'' Russian media quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying after visiting the West Asia Lavrov said the West Asia Quartet could meet next month.

''I believe we will hold this meeting in mid-July. We wish to meet in the West Asia region -- there was such an agreement.'' Quartet partners include the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

REUTERS CS VC2200