Saudi Gazette report

NEW YORK — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized that there will be no solution to the Palestinian – Israeli conflict without establishing an independent Palestinian state. “The two-state solution must return to the forefront,” he said while speaking to Al Arabiya Television on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session here on Monday. Prince Faisal chaired a ministerial meeting to discuss efforts to revive the peace process in the Middle East.

The minister said that the solution to the Palestinian issue is vital for the stability of the region and the world. He stressed the need to revive hope to get out of the aggravation of the humanitarian crisis that Palestine is suffering from. “The solution to the Palestinian issue must be based on the two-state solution and the establishment of the Palestinian state in accordance with international resolutions. We seek to bring the conversation about the two-state solution back to the forefront,” he said while noting that Saudi Arabia coordinated fully with its brothers in Palestine to ensure that their priorities and positions are reflected in the course of and outcomes of this meeting to revive the peace efforts.

Prince Faisal chaired the ministerial meeting along with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.

Representatives of about 70 countries and international organizations and about 50 speakers from various countries of the world attended the meeting. The ministerial meeting discussed coordination mechanisms for joint efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East, and the formation of political, economic, and humanitarian work teams to discuss practical steps and incentives that would encourage the revival of the Arab Peace Initiative.