Greece will take initiatives for the Middle East, emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, in his statement to ERT after participating in the International Conference on Humanitarian Action for Gaza, held at the Dead Sea, in Jordan.

“I would like to emphasize once again that Greece, with significant international capital, was invited to this international conference and presented its views. Greece can and does talk to all parties involved and it is important to be able to support the international effort, which is currently being made for the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. It is a universal demand of all of Europe and the whole world to stop this nightmare,” said the Foreign Minister, emphasizing that “Greece will undertake a series of initiatives so that we can have beneficial results in the Middle East.”

He pointed out that already with his own proposal to the Council of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, a special group, mixed, composed of foreign ministers of both the European Union and the Arab world, will be set up, in order to be able to help in the adoption of the peace process. At the same time, as he noted, he, together with his counterparts from Portugal and Denmark, proposed to the European Union “the formation of a group, which will help reform the institutions of the new Palestinian state, when it is created – to strengthen the institutions , for peace in the region, for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine”.

Mr. Gerapetritis characterized the situation in the region as dramatic, underlining the need for an immediate ceasefire, release of the hostages and reconstruction of Gaza. He also emphasized that Greece fully adopts the plan of the President of the United States, Joe Biden for the region. “The Greek government absolutely adopts the plan of the President of the United States Biden regarding the immediate ceasefire, with the return of the hostages, who are currently being held as well as with a comprehensive plan, which will allow the return of the displaced Palestinians to their homes,” he said.

“Right now we are in a really dramatic situation for the region. There is an urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a plan for the reconstruction of Gaza – for central arteries, which can allow citizens to return to their homes, with basic infrastructure, with houses, with life in Palestine returning,” said Mr Gerapetritis.

He pointed out, at the same time, that “a vision should be given to the Palestinian people, with the implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations Organization, for the establishment of a Palestinian state in the context of the decisions of the SA”.

It is noted that the International Conference on the Undertaking of Humanitarian Aid for Gaza was held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Conference Center, in the Dead Sea region, at the invitation of King Abdullah II of Jordan, the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.