The Palestinian ambassadors with accreditation in Europe are meeting at Casa Árabe

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alfonso Dastis, takes part in this conference, held from July 28 to 30 in Madrid.

On Friday, July 28, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alfonso Dastis, took part in the 32nd Conference of Palestinian Ambassadors to European countries and international entities, held at Casa Árabe from July 28 to 30. Also attending the meeting were the Palestinian Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and the Economy.

This was the fifth occasion on which the Ambassadors’ Conference was held in Madrid, after those in 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Spain hosted these diplomatic conferences held in Madrid as part of its policy in favor of building and strengthening the state institutions of Palestine.

In today’s context of tension in East Jerusalem, Minister Dastis issued an urgent call for restraint and the restoration of calm within the framework of respect for the status quo.

In his speech, the Minister pointed out that the lack of a political process is hindering the prospects for a solution to the conflict, at the same time causing mistrust between the parties. He provided a reminder that the expansion of settlements creates obstacles for peace, as stated in Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), which Spain supported.

The Minister reiterated Spain’s commitment to the solution of two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, coexisting in peace within safe, recognized borders.

In his intervention, the Minister also asked the parties to recover the spirit of dialogue and cooperation which led to the peace process that arose during the Madrid Conference of 1991.

(Source: MAEC).