Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt's Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg, and NATO, participated on Thursday, March 27, in a meeting of the Arab Mini-Committee, which includes the ambassadors of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, and the Arab League, along with the ambassadors of the European Union countries, in the presence of the Commissioner for the Mediterranean.
This meeting comes within the framework of the committee's efforts to communicate with the ambassadors of the member states of the European Council and the European Commission to defend Arab issues, explain developments related to the Palestinian issue, the situation in Gaza, ceasefire efforts, and promote the Arab plan for the reconstruction of the Strip. According to a statement issued by the Egyptian Embassy in Brussels via social media, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid noted that the meeting witnessed an in-depth and frank dialogue about the deteriorating and dangerous conditions facing the Arab region as a result of the ongoing war against the Gaza Strip and the violation of the ceasefire agreement. Egypt was keen to emphasize the close relationship between the stability of the southern Mediterranean region and the stability and security of the European continent, while clarifying that the Mediterranean Charter, currently being prepared by the European Union to strengthen partnership with the countries of the southern Mediterranean, cannot succeed without achieving stability and peace in the region. Therefore, the goal of achieving peace, ending the war, preserving the rights of the Palestinian people, and respecting the terms of reference for settling the Palestinian issue is a common goal that both European and Arab countries must work towards together. The Egyptian ambassador added that he was keen to review the most important features and objectives of the Arab plan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, noting that it represents the only viable solution to dealing with the scale of destruction witnessed in the Strip, while avoiding the threat of Palestinians leaving their lands. He also emphasized that efforts must be combined to implement this plan and provide international political and financial support for its implementation. It was also emphasized that the Gaza reconstruction plan is a complementary effort to the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by Egypt, its brothers in Qatar and the United States, to consolidate the ceasefire and enter its second phase, as well as the efforts aimed at reviving the peace process and reaching a roadmap that guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state and the implementation of the vision of a two-state solution. Ambassador Abu Zeid revealed that the meeting provided an opportunity for an interactive dialogue between the ambassadors of the Council of Europe countries and the Arab ambassadors on the details of the humanitarian, political, and security situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, and to listen to a briefing from the Commissioner for the Mediterranean on the Mediterranean Charter. The Arab ambassadors emphasized the need to strengthen the mechanisms and levels of consultation and coordination between the European and Arab sides to ensure that the Charter reflects the priorities of both parties and includes the mechanisms and resources necessary to achieve its objectives.