Brussels, 22 January 2024
Good morning to all of you.
Today, we are going to have an exceptional Foreign Affairs Council. I think that never before we have had a Council with so many, and so important guests, in these dramatic circumstances.
We managed to invite – and they are coming today – first, the Israeli Foreign Minister [Israel Katz] – the new one. Second, the representatives of the Arab and Muslim countries diplomatic initiatives: the Ministers [for Foreign Affairs] of Saudi Arabia [Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud], Egypt [Sameh Shoukry], Jordan [Ayman Al Safadi] and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States [Ahmed Abou Ghei]. And after, in a separate session, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Palestine [Riyad al-Maliki].
So, we are going to have here today all actors – [of] the countries engaged, the countries who are directly affected by the situation in Gaza. I have been talking with the new United Nations [Senior] Coordinator for the Humanitarian support [and Reconstruction for Gaza], Sigrid [Kaag], who explained to me yesterday on the phone. She will also come to the Council to debrief the ministers.
The humanitarian situation [in Gaza] could not be worse. It could not be worse. There are no words to explain how the situation is, with hundreds of thousands without anything – without shelter, without food, without medicines, and under the bombs.
And every day, there is a high toll of civilian people being killed. Many ministers have said that there are “too many”. Well, the question is: how many is “too many”? What does it mean “too many”? [Is] too many 25,000 people? For how long is this going to continue?
This is the thing that ministers will discuss today, so it is a very important meeting. I am happy to have managed to invite them, and to make them to come.
And after, we will have a discussion among us, among the ministers, and I will present – I have already presented – a comprehensive approach. A comprehensive approach to what? I think that we have to stop talking about the “peace” process, and start talking more concretely about the “two-state solution” process. Because peace, it could be many different [kinds of] peace. What kind of peace are you talking about?
So, let’s talk about what we want to do. What we want to do is to build a two-state solution, so let’s talk about it. The way you are naming it is important. So, from now on, I will not talk about the peace process, but about the two-state solution process. If we are serious about that, we have to study the underling causes that prevent this solution from being implemented. Certainly, Hamas is one of them – an important one – but there are others.
This comprehensive approach has to be studied, and discussed. I know it is difficult. The 27 [Member States] have different approaches, but we have to work together with the Arab world. I know it is difficult, but it is our moral endeavour, our moral obligation to try to do our utmost to try to look for a solution.
So, from now on, please talk about the “two-state solution” process.
Q&A
Q. Hight Representative, the Prime Minister of Israel excluded that option for the moment. You are going to meet with the Israeli Foreign Minister today, so are you going to mention this? Because his government has a different stand than what you just told us.
I know they have a different stand, I know. The Secretary-General of the United Nations [António Guterres] knows also, and he answered yesterday in very concrete terms, saying that it is unacceptable to say “I do not want this solution”, because this is a solution that has been approved by the United Nations, and the whole international community is behind it. So, if they do not agree we have to discuss. That is why we are here. We have to discuss even if they disagree. They have to come here, and they will discuss with us, and we will study whatever solution they have in mind. Which are the other solutions they have in mind? To make all the Palestinians leave? To kill them? 25,000 already in Gaza, 70% women and children. Certainly, the way of trying to destroy Hamas is not the way they are doing, because they are seeding the hate for generations. We have in mind what Hamas is, what Hamas has done, and certainly we reject [it] and we condemn [it]. But peace and stability cannot be built only by military means, and not in this particular way of using military means. I say that with full respect to the victims of Hamas terrorist attacks.
Q. High Representative, when you are talking about a two-state solution; are you considering Hamas to be a part of this solution? How are you going to deal with that?
As I said, I presented a comprehensive approach. Do not say “a 10-point plan”. Yes, it is 10/12 [points], it is a way of presenting things. It is a complex thing; it cannot be solved overnight. Thirty years that these things have been discussed without a solution, do not expect me in a Council to [find] a solution immediately. There are a lot of problems, I cannot give you a concrete answer to all of them, so, let us work.
Q. High Representative, what will you discuss on Ukraine, as Ukraine is also on the agenda?
Ukraine is also on the agenda, the first item in the agenda. The fact that we are engaged in looking for a solution in the Middle East does not mean that we are not continuing supporting Ukraine. The first one intervening [today] will be the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine [Dmytro Kuleba], and we will discuss with the ministers our continuous support to Ukraine. And [at] the Gymnich meeting, [later on, there] will be a specific meeting with the Defence Ministers to discuss about it [and] boost our support. Do not worry, Ukrainians have not to worry, European support continues as strong as ever, and it will continue.
Q. How can you persuade Israel to accept your ideas, or to take them seriously? What arguments will you use to convince them? What leverage do you have to lure them in that direction?
We are not there still. Let us work.
Q. A quick question on humanitarian aid for Gaza. Are there any other options on the table to increase the humanitarian aid right now?
This is what Sigrid [Kaag] is trying to look for. Certainly, today the number of trucks and controls, and the delays of entering the trucks, is not in accordance with the needs of hundreds of thousands of people. And that is why, the United Nations has nominated a Special Coordinator for Humanitarian Support [and Reconstruction for Gaza]. She is working, and she told me yesterday that there are some issues, some possibilities – opening harbours, opening cross borders. It is her job, and we will support her. Because certainly, today the situation does not allow to make these people survive.
Q. Will you address the recent ballistic airstrikes in the Kurdish region by Iran? Because Iran is saying there is a Mossad headquarters there.
We will discuss about everything that affects the situation in the Middle East. Certainly, we will discuss about everything. I am sorry, I have the Egyptian [Foreign] Minister waiting for me.
Thank you.
Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251557
Source – EEAS