FM, French Counterpart Talk Regional De-Escalation Efforts, Ties

Paris, June 19 (Petra) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday held extensive talks on efforts to end the region's disastrous escalation and protect it from its repercussions that threaten regional and international peace and security.

During the meeting, the two ministers said de-escalation of Israel and Iran tensions and resumption of negotiations are the "way to protect the region from the expansion of the war and its dangerous repercussions."

In this context, Safadi stressed the importance of the talks that France, Germany, and the United States are set to hold with Iran in Geneva Friday to give diplomacy a chance to succeed in reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and protecting the region from the repercussions of an escalating war.

The duo also called for intensifying efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and allowing the "immediate and adequate" entry of aid, which is a priority that requires concerted efforts to achieve.

Safadi reminded of the Gaza plight, regional and international efforts focus on de-escalating Iran-Israel tensions, referring to massacres, starvation, and suffering as the inhumane reality in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

The two ministers also discussed the dangerous escalation in the West Bank, as Safadi warned of illegal Israeli measures that undermine the two-state solution and besiege the Palestinian people, their leadership, and their economy, according to Foreign Ministry statement.

Additionally, Safadi said protection of the two-state solution from illegal Israeli measures should be a "top" priority for all countries that support this formula, as the only way to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees security and stability for all.

Safadi said Arab countries remain "committed" to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which offers normal relations with Israel and collective guarantees for its security within the context of a comprehensive solution.

Safadi added that this settlement aims to end Israeli occupation and establish an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in security and peace alongside Israel on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

The two ministers also went over preparations for holding an international conference on the two-state solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, at a scheduled date, after the event was postponed due to the Israeli aggression against Iran.

Safadi praised France's "key" role in efforts to find a "true" horizon for achieving peace based on the two-state solution.

Safadi called for recognizing the Palestinian state, a step that confirms "inevitability" of the two-state solution as the "only way" to achieve a just peace, and pressures for its implementation.

Discussing developments in Syria, Safadi underlined importance of the French steps in supporting Damascus and stressing the need to support the Syrian government in the reconstruction process.

Safadi added that this effort should rely on foundations that guarantee Syria's unity, sovereignty, security, and stability, eleminate terrorism, create conditions for the voluntary return of refugees, and preserve the rights of all components of the Syrian people.

According to the statement, the duo affirmed continued joint cooperation in efforts to support Lebanon, its security, stability, sovereignty, and activation of its institutions.

The ministers stressed the "deep-rooted" Jordanian-French partnership, and the ongoing cooperation and coordination of the two countries' leaderships and governments in efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In this regard, they said bilateral collaboration seeks to achieve a permanent ceasefire, de-escalate regional tensions, and find a "genuine and effective" political path that leads to a just and comprehensive peace and consolidates the region's security and stability.

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