A joint meeting between Arab and European ministers reaffirmed consensus over the need to maintain efforts to achieve peace according to the internationally agreed framework, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Ministers have also highlighted the necessity to preserve communication with the United States - as an indispensable partner - to restore the peace process in accordance with the relevant international resolutions, the minister added.
Statements made by other ministers from Arab and European countries on the sidelines of the joint meeting hosted by Brussels to discuss the future of the peace process underlined a similarity in the positions and views between the two sides.
This was confirmed by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, who addressed reporters on Tuesday, saying that the meeting was an opportunity to explain the Arab position to the EU foreign ministers, emphasizing that the gathering was fruitful and constructive.
The Saudi minister noted that views were identical on several matters, including Jerusalem, the revival of the peace process and the need to assist UNRWA’s work.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, for his part, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The Arab stance on Jerusalem is well-known; East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and an occupied territory, the status of which must be resolved through direct negotiations and on the basis of the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
EU foreign ministers expressed their commitment to achieving a two-state solution through negotiations to end the conflict in the Middle East. They also noted that EU countries would not transfer their embassies to Jerusalem, emphasizing that the city must be the capital of the two states.
In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said: “We do not accept the transfer of the embassy, and there is a European stance that emphasizes the two-state solution and respect for Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.”
