The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, spoke this Monday, 28 July, at the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. In his speech, he stated that Palestine "is an open wound for humanity. A wound representing decades of suffering”.
For these reasons, Albares supported the recognition of the Palestinian State, as Spain did in May 2024, "for justice" and also "for peace", as a way to implement now the two-State solution, the only viable way to achieve peace in the Middle East. Albares also called for the State of Palestine to be granted full membership in the UN system.
Speaking from the UN General Assembly podium, Albares argued that the two-State solution is not about sides, but about lives: "We must understand that pain does not distinguish between beliefs, ideologies or borders. We are not defending sides, but defending lives. Preserving peace, life and humanity is the principle that gives meaning to this organisation and the goal that must guide our decisions".
Albares called on the countries that have not yet done so to join the two-State solution and recognise the Palestinian State, and reaffirmed Spain's proposal to keep the Conference in permanent session for the next year, with the political objective of Palestine being recognised as a full member of the United Nations within those twelve months.
Working groups
On Monday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs also actively took part in the Conference's working groups. Spain, together with Jordan, chaired the group on the political implementation of the two-State solution. This group has worked in recent months to define a solid diplomatic framework, with concrete steps and a clear timetable, to make irreversible the establishment of a realistic and viable Palestinian State, with territorial continuity, its capital in East Jerusalem and full membership of the United Nations.
The Conference was co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, and supported by more than 90 countries and international organisations through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, promoted by the Madrid+ Group. By participating in this Conference, Spain reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism, to international law and to the founding values of the United Nations: peace, life and human dignity.
Meeting with Guterres and other countries
During the event, the Minister also held a bilateral meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, in which they discussed the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza, the peace process and the international community's next steps towards the two-State solution. The Minister expressed support for the work of Guterres and the UN in its efforts for peace in the Middle East and other regions.
Albares also held several bilateral meetings on the margins of the Conference. He met with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, and with his counterparts from France, Jean-Noël Barrot; Jordan, Ayman Safadi; Norway, Espen Barth Eide; Andorra, María Ubach; and Brazil, Mauro Vieira, with whom he also analysed the situation in Gaza, as well as other international and bilateral issues.