European Union: UN Conference on Two-State Solution a Decisive Step Towards Peace
Under joint Saudi-French sponsorship, the international conference on implementing the two-state solution kicks off on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York for two days, with high-level international participation.
In her speech during the conference, Dubravka Suica, a member of the European Commission responsible for Mediterranean affairs, emphasized that "this moment is crucial not only for the Middle East but for all of us." She added, "Peace and prosperity in our immediate neighborhood also benefit Europe, and this conference must translate positions into actions."
Suica pointed out that "the European Union not only participates but contributes to shaping the region's agenda," explaining that the European bloc "advocates not only for peace but invests in it through dialogue with partners, providing humanitarian aid, supporting building efforts, and enhancing the necessary institutions for a viable, democratic, and unified Palestinian state as part of a negotiated solution."
She continued, "We work towards ensuring that Israel is secure and Palestine is free, living side by side in peace and security. The two-state solution must move from a principle to a tangible reality."
Suica is expected to highlight the EU's commitment to the two-state solution as the sole path to achieving a just and lasting peace, with a focus on European efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering, support an effective Palestinian authority as a governing institution for the future Palestinian state. She will also participate in discussions on the "day after," especially regarding the reconstruction and revitalization of Gaza.
This conference serves as a prelude to a larger international conference to be held in Paris or New York in September, coinciding with the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, as part of Palestine's efforts to gain recognition from major European countries, led by France, within a comprehensive plan to bring peace between Israel and Arab states.
It is worth noting that the current conference is chaired by the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and France's Jean-Yves Le Drian, as part of a joint initiative between the two countries that began months ago.
