News
Meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation with Arab Ambassadors
This meeting was held in response to a request by the ambassadors to
discuss the situation currently experienced in the Middle East peace
process and the role of Spain
November 06, 2014
MADRID
Within the framework of the periodic contact made with the different regional groups of ambassadors, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Manuel García-Margallo, received the Arab ambassadors accredited in Madrid at the Palace of Santa Cruz today.
On this occasion, the meeting occurred in response to a request by the group of Arab ambassadors to deal with the difficult situation being experienced in the Near East peace process and the role of Spain in that process, above all within the context of the responsibilities which our country will be assuming upon holding a non-permanent position on the United Nations Security Council as of the upcoming date of January 1, 2015.
Minister García-Margallo began by thanking the Arab countries for their support of Spain's candidacy for the Security Council.
He then referred to the concern for the stalemate in the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis and the increase in tension after the recent conflict in Gaza. The Minister insisted upon the need to resume the negotiation process as soon as possible.
Likewise, he highlighted that Spain, as part of its efforts and given its upcoming membership on the Security Council, deems it convenient to give the Council a chance to make a pronouncement to give the process momentum. In this sense, he referred to the option of a negotiated resolution by the Security Council to set certain clear parameters for a final, complete solution of the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.
Regarding the topic of recognizing the Palestinian State, García-Margallo reiterated Spain's position of supporting the Palestinian people's right to a State, as has been acknowledged internationally. That commitment has been expressed through political gestures such as Spain's vote in favor of Palestine's entry into UNESCO in 2011 and the support for recognition of Palestine as an “Non-member State Observer” of the United Nations General Assembly in November 2012. Within this context, he underlined that what Spain hopes for is moving towards the mutual and reciprocal recognition of two states, Israel and Palestine, as a result of a complete, negotiated solution of the underlying conflict. He pointed out that recognition of Palestine as a State, in order to take full effect, should occur within the framework of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
As for the Arab ambassadors, they thanked the Minister for his speech, convinced that Spain, as a traditionally friendly country and partner of the Arab world, will add value in terms of the respect for international Law when it comes time to exercise its responsibilities within the Security Council. In addition to this, the Arab ambassadors expressed their confidence that progress may be made towards the recognition of the Palestinian State and that Spain can show leadership regarding this matter. They also referred to the need for a greater commitment to the peace process in the Middle East by the international community and the importance of the role which the European Union should hold in this respect.
