Albares pushes for two-state solution for Middle East peace at the UN

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, attends the High-Level Segment of the UN General Assembly

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has concluded his participation in the High-Level Segment of the UN General Assembly with a new push for a two-state solution to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Following the spread of the conflict to Lebanon, the situation in the region has been high on the Spanish foreign minister's agenda, and he has held various bilateral meetings and ministerial meetings aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, peace and a way to end the Middle East conflict based on a two-state solution.

In this context, Minister Albares also held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart, whom he asked for restraint to avoid an all-out war in the region and not to supply Russia with any weapons for the war against Ukraine.

Albares also took part in the ministerial meeting on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), organised by Jordan and Sweden, and in the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for Palestine. He also addressed the High-Level meeting on Palestine and the two-state solution, which was held as a follow up to the Madrid meeting on 13 September of the Euro-Arab/Islamic Group. He closed the busy week with a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa.

UNRWA's vital work

Albares also had the opportunity to speak with Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA's Commissioner General, whose Advisory Council Spain has chaired since July. UNRWA's work is vital for six million Palestinian refugees in the Middle East at this difficult time. He also held a meeting with Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, to whom he reiterated Spain's support in his fight against impunity and for accountability.

Spain, as the promoter of this initiative, has a very close relationship with the Friends of the Alliance of Civilisations. With this group, and with the High Representative, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Albares was able to meet and share visions.

Likewise, Albares once again conveyed Spain's commitment to the UN to the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, with whom he discussed the situation in Lebanon and the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, UNIFIL. He also held meetings with representatives of international Jewish communities, with whom he discussed the importance of continuing the fight against anti-Semitism, and to whom he conveyed Spain's commitment to this goal.

Ibero-America

The foreign minister spent a large part of his agenda on the Ibero-American situation, the main focus of concern being Venezuela. He has done so at multiple levels, including the trilateral meeting with Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, at the working breakfast of Ibero-American foreign ministers and at the meeting promoted by the US Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, which has given rise to a communiqué to which Spain has adhered.

These days served to underline Spain's central role in Ibero-America, as demonstrated by the unanimous support received for the designation of our country as the host of the Ibero-American Summit in 2026. At the working breakfast, Albares spoke to explain Spain's priorities for this summit, whose pro tempore secretariat will take over as soon as the Cuenca Summit is over.

Multilateralism, democracy and feminism

Spain's commitment to the defence of multilateralism, a world based on rules, democracy and peace, was also reaffirmed. The Pact for the Future was adopted, which Spain has supported and in which countries give renewed impetus to the implementation of the SDGs.

Albares has addressed priorities for Spain such as Feminist Foreign Policy and the defence of democracy in the face of political extremism, polarisation and hate speech. Our country played a leading role during UN Women's commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the HeForShe initiative, and in a ministerial meeting of the Feminist + Foreign Policy Group, which Spain and Mexico are co-chairing this year.

Bilateral meetings

He also held meetings with his counterparts from India, Senegal, Mauritania, Oman, South Korea and Morocco. With his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, he discussed the shared agenda and ratified the excellent relations and cooperation between Spain and Morocco.

During the ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, Albares had the opportunity to convey Spain's commitment to the fight against terrorism and support for victims. On 8 and 9 October, Spain will host the United Nations International Conference on Victims of Terrorism in the city of Vitoria.

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