FM says trust in two-state solution needed
Madrid, 13 September - The trust in a two-state solution has to be rebuilt, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the STA after the meeting of ministers on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East held on Friday in Madrid. The challenges are very complex and a potential escalation would be a threat to European security, Fajon said.
Ljubljana
Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon.
Photo: Katja Kodba/STA
File photo
"More diplomacy is needed, the trust in the implementation of the two-state solution has to be rebuilt," Fajon said. She believes it to be crucial that as many countries as possible recognise Palestine.
Existing legal frameworks should also be respected, the foreign minister said. "We have four UN Security Council resolutions that are not respected, we have a court ruling that UN members are also required to respect, we have the Oslo agreements," she said.
Fajon said that France, Belgium and Great Britain have taken "a step or a step and a half" towards the recognition of Palestine.
"There is a great and serious fear that the conflict could become a region-wide war and that is a significant threat for security on European soil," said Fajon, adding that the illegal occupation of the West Bank and the violence of Israeli settlers against Palestinians was also extremely concerning.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of Spain, Ireland and Norway, who also recently recognised Palestine, as well as by Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and the foreign ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey.
Among the issues they discussed was how to affect the public opinion in both the EU and the Arab world as it seems that opinions on the Middle East crisis are divided.
They adopted a joint statement committing to work towards the two-state solution, protection of civilians, a ceasefire, providing humanitarian aid and supporting the Palestinian authorities in Ramallah.