Foreign Minister participates in ministerial meeting to discuss situation in Gaza Strip

Manama: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the ministerial meeting held in New York to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the prospects for a two-state solution. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Foreign ministers from the member states of the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, and Trkiye, along with representatives from the General Secretariats of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, participated in the meeting. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, and representatives of EU member states were also present. During the minister's keynote at the meeting, he emphasised that the Arab world faces the potential for a broader and more complex regional conflict, but with timely and coordinated effo rts from the international community, it can be effectively managed and resolved. He highlighted that the consequences of such a conflict would further exacerbate the threat of terrorism and extremist ideologies, leading to increased displacement and forced migration of civilians from their homelands, halting social and economic progress, and stripping hundreds of thousands of innocent people of their fundamental human rights. Dr. Al Zayani noted that, in response to these challenges, Arab leaders met in Bahrain in May for the 33rd Arab Summit, chaired by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. They delivered a unified message of peace and highlighted the need to ensure basic human rights for Palestinians and the Arab people, and the importance of establishing a clear and irreversible path toward creating an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, in line with the two-state solution. The minister highlighted that the Arab leaders endorsed several initiatives during the summit, including a proposal to convene an international peace conference to establish a Palestinian state in line with the two-state solution. They also reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing global recognition of the State of Palestine and securing its full membership in the United Nations, reinforcing the principle of two states. Dr. Al Zayani added. The minister highlighted the leader's commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights to education, healthcare, and economic development for Arab nations and their populations. He further noted that partners in Europe and the West have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting and protecting human rights. The minister emphasised the importance of renewed leadership to ensure that Palestinian rights are given equal priority within the international community. He called for credible and transparent action, highlighting the necessity of implementing concrete measures to establish a lasting peace based on justice and equality. Source: Bahrain News Agency