Madrid (UNA/KUNA) - Arab, Islamic and European countries agreed on Friday that implementing the two-state solution is the "only way" to ensure just peace in the Middle East and coexistence "in peace and security" between the Palestinians and the Israeli occupation.
The announcement came during an appearance by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares before journalists at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital (Madrid) at the conclusion of the (Madrid Meeting: Towards Implementing the Two-State Solution), accompanied by ministers of the Contact Group formed by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and European representatives, in the presence of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
The meeting was attended by Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, and Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Mustafa.
The meeting was also attended by Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, Bahraini Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide, Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon, and Political Director at the Irish Foreign Ministry Gerard Keown.
Albares said the countries participating in the meeting want a sovereign Palestinian state with recognized borders that includes the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He considered that the progress made in recognizing the State of Palestine was “good but not enough” and that the State of Palestine’s accession to the United Nations was “important but not enough” to end the war.
In this context, he stressed the need for “firm action by the international community against those who, on one side or another, are trying to blow up and undermine efforts to embody the two-state solution and expand the scope of violence,” while urging the international community to abide by international law and the resolutions of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice and to work to stop the fire and achieve peace.
Albares explained that the participants in the Madrid meeting are united by a common goal and want to convey a unified European, Arab and Islamic voice to implement the two-state solution. They also all support the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States to cease fire, release prisoners and allow intensive and immediate entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
He added that the participants seek to push efforts to stop the war in Gaza and put an end to the cycle of violence and avoid further atrocities, pointing to the need to start a new phase that will provide peace and stability to the Palestinians and the Middle East region.
Albares said, "The war must stop and there is no need for excuses to prolong the suffering of millions of innocent civilians," noting that the countries participating in the meeting in Madrid will work together to restore the Palestinian National Authority in the Strip and support its legitimacy after the end of the war, stressing that this stage will be full of challenges and the need for greater support.
He stressed that "the Palestinian government is an effective and essential element in Gaza and will remain so in the coming years," noting that it will have an "effective and important role" in achieving stability in Gaza and helping to establish the Palestinian state that Arab, Islamic and European countries aspire to.
He pointed out that the meeting contributes to supporting coordination between the participating countries in preparation for the meetings that will be held in the coming period, as well as at the level of the ministerial meeting within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the end of this month.
Albares stressed that the parties meeting in Madrid today will continue to work and make efforts to embody the two-state solution and complete the agreed-upon path to achieve peace and security in the region.
Albares is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of his counterparts later today to discuss issues of common interest and ways to deepen bilateral relations and enhance joint efforts to implement commitments on the Palestinian issue.
This is the second meeting hosted by Spain after a meeting held on May 29, when Albares received a number of members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group, one day after Spain recognized the independent Palestinian state, along with Norway and Ireland, and three days before the Palestinian embassy in Madrid was granted all diplomatic and consular privileges and immunities.
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