Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed Mr. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, and his accompanying delegation at the headquarters of the League’s General Secretariat. This meeting occurred during their visit to Egypt and several European countries.
Gamal Roshdy, the spokesman for the Secretary-General, stated that the discussion covered various regional and international issues of mutual concern, with particular emphasis on the Palestinian cause. Mr. Aboul Gheit commended New Zealand's stance in condemning the brutal Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and advocating for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
The Secretary-General urged the New Zealand Minister to consider recognising the State of Palestine, highlighting it as a crucial step towards achieving a peaceful resolution based on the two-state solution. He emphasised that recognition and Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations would facilitate negotiations between the two parties on equal footing, in contrast to the current situation.
The spokesman highlighted that during the meeting, Mr. Aboul Gheit underscored the urgency of implementing the recent UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. He emphasised the importance of halting Israeli military operations and putting an end to the prolonged bloodshed within the Strip. Mr. Aboul Gheit stressed the necessity of providing relief to the affected population and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid through a sustainable and reliable mechanism.
Additionally, the spokesman noted that the discussion also explored avenues to strengthen relations between the two parties.
