Arab FMs Urge Creation of Multilateral Mechanism for Peacemaking
SOURCE:WAFA
CAIRO, February 1, 2018 (WAFA) – The Arab foreign ministers decided on Thursday to work with international actors to establish a multilateral international mechanism under the umbrella of the United Nations to sponsor the peace process.
This came in a resolution issued by the Council of Arab League at the level of the foreign ministers following a meeting in Cairo that discussed the Arab action to counter the US administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
The Arab foreign ministers also called on all countries to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Council called upon all countries not to establish diplomatic missions in the city in line with the UNSC resolution 478 of 1980, which stressed that the question of Jerusalem is one of the final status issues to be resolved through negotiations.
The Council affirmed its support for the decisions of President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leadership to counter the US administration’s decision on Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, the Arab foreign ministers called for an international conference to re-launch a credible and time-bound peace process based on international legitimacy resolutions, the principle of land for peace and the two-state solution on the territories occupied by Israel in June 1967.
The foreign ministers also affirmed their support of the State for Palestine to obtain a full membership in the United Nations, and decided to mobilize international support for this approach as well as mandating the Arab Group in New York to do what is necessary in this regard.
They reiterated their commitment to peace as a strategic option and to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 with all of its elements.
The foreign ministers also reiterated their rejection of attempts to end or diminish the role and mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) through Israel’s systematic campaign against the aid agency.
The Council called upon the Palestinian factions to speed up national reconciliation in accordance with the Cairo Agreement signed in May 2011 and the mechanisms and understandings of implementation and the latest Cairo 2017 agreement.
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