Albares calls on UfM states to move from “words to actions” and recognise Palestine

Eduardo González The co-presidency of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) called this Monday in Barcelona for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza and Lebanon and supported the holding of “a peace conference to achieve a fair peace and the two-state solution”. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the recognition of the Palestinian state as “indispensable” and called on the other member states to move from “words to actions.” The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, or their representatives, of 41 of the 43 Member States of the UfM participated this Monday in the ninth Regional Forum of the organization, which was co-chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and by Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel. The Forum was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, participated as a guest to represent the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee. In addition, Nadia Calviño, President of the European Investment Bank, and Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, also attended the meeting. The Forum was boycotted by Israel for the second consecutive year and included the participation of Palestine for the first time since its recognition as a State by Spain. However, Palestine was not represented by its Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohamad Mustafa, but by its 'number two', Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. At the meeting, the foreign ministers of the member states discussed the critical situation in the Middle East and the process of reform of the organization, launched in 2023 on the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary and which focuses on strengthening the mandate of the organization, its capacities for action and its resources. During his speech, José Manuel Albares referred to “the real tragedy that is taking place in the Middle East” and recalled “the people who are experiencing the conflict first-hand: the civilians who have lost their lives in war, the wounded, the kidnapped, their families, their loved ones, those who have lost their homes” and those whose “future, at this time, is to live as displaced persons.” “We have to end this suffering and we have to put people, without any distinction of nationality, religion, or gender, at the centre of our action and the decisions we make,” he warned. “We have to move forward in forging consensus that will ensure that peace and stability in the region is not just a wish, as it is for everyone, but a reality,” he added. In this regard, Albares stressed that in the last year a path of consensus has been made on the two-state solution (Israel and Palestine) and on the “indispensable” recognition of the Palestinian State (Spain did so on May 28), but warned that it is not enough. “We must go one step further, we must go to implementation. We must move from words and declarations to actions,” he said. For his part, Josep Borrell urged the international community on Monday to “pressure” Israel to end “the most serious and acute humanitarian crisis since the Second World War” and warned that we must “do something more than simply show” our concern. Therefore, he said, it is necessary to recognize the Palestinian State in order to “implement” the two-state solution. “Not only say that we support it: start doing things, move on to action, act so that this solution is implemented,” he added. “In my four decades of service, I have witnessed countless crises and conflicts, but I have never seen a tragedy as profound as the one currently threatening the Mediterranean region,” said Nasser Kamel. “The humanitarian cost is staggering, with so many lives lost and families torn apart. Urgent action has never been more important,” warned the UfM Secretary General. Joint Statement At the end of the meeting, the co-presidency adopted a Joint Statement that warns of “the urgency of working together to achieve an immediate and permanent ceasefire as a top priority in Gaza and Lebanon” and calls for “working with all parties concerned to ensure a sustained mechanism for the uninterrupted and unhindered delivery of humanitarian supplies to all parts of Gaza, the resumption of all essential services there and the release of all hostages and innocent civilians detained.” The text expresses its “deep concern about the prolonged war in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation” and its “concern about the escalation of the situation in the West Bank, which has caused an alarming number of civilian casualties.” It also rejects “any expulsion or displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank” and demands the protection of “hospitals, schools, medical centers and health workers, as well as the facilities of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations and their workers” in accordance with “international humanitarian law.” The co-chairs reiterate “the indispensable and irreplaceable role” of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and reaffirm “the need to support it politically and financially to enable it to fulfil its UN mandate”, while expressing “great concern about the draft laws on UNRWA currently being discussed in Israel”. The Declaration reaffirms “the collective responsibility to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with international law” and supports the holding of “a peace conference to achieve a just peace and the two-state solution”. It also calls, with “urgent necessity”, for an end to “all unilateral Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution, including settlement construction, expansion and land confiscation”, and underlines the need to “respect the historic status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Hashemite custodianship”. The Declaration also expresses its “concern over the growing militarisation, which is causing significant disruption in large parts of Lebanese territory” and calls for “an immediate ceasefire in this country, “as well as the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 as part of a broader political agreement”. Finally, the text condemns “attacks against UN missions” and expresses “particular concern over the Israeli army’s attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)”. Bilateral meetings On the sidelines of the Forum, Albares held bilateral meetings with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, with whom he discussed “efforts to stop the war in Gaza and Lebanon” and the need to “avoid a greater humanitarian catastrophe”, and with the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid. With whom he spoke about “the situation in the Middle East and efforts for peace,” according to the minister through the social network X. Before the Forum, Albares met with his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib, with whom he issued a joint statement in which they call for a “permanent and immediate ceasefire” and to “restore Lebanon’s sovereignty over its territory” and in which they “condemn” Israel’s attacks against UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces.

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