Foreign Minister Calls for Greater Brazilian Role in Peacemaking

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil Aloysio Nunes (2-R) and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki (2-L) wave upon arrival for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, 01 March 2018. EPA photo.

Ramallah, MINA – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Malki called on Thursday for a greater Brazilian role in the multilateral international brokerage of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, Palestinian news Agency WAFA reported.

During a meeting with visiting Brazilian State Minister of External Relations, Aloysio Nunes, in Ramallah, Malki briefed Nunes on the situation in occupied Palestine as well as the initiative of President Mahmoud Abbas for peace, which confirms the need to create a multilateral international peacemaking mechanism.

Malki condemned the decision of the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem on May 15, which coincides with the anniversary of the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe.

The two ministers also discussed the future of the peace process and the need to resume negotiations to achieve the two-state solution of Palestine and Israel living side by side.

Malki and Nunes also discussed the impact of US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, saying the US has chosen to isolate itself by closing its eyes to international resolutions, which confirm the status of East Jerusalem as an occupied territory.

Meanwhile, Malki called on his Brazilian counterpart to facilitate the importation of Palestinian products in order to encourage the Palestinian economy and facilitate its independence by supporting Palestine’s membership in the Mercosur and boycotting products manufactured in illegal Israeli settlements.

On the other hand, Nunes expressed Brazil’s commitment to strength bilateral relations with Palestine, particularly in the political, economic and sports fields, and develop cooperation in the interest of the two friendly peoples.

He also expressed his country’s readiness to participate in any international effort leading to resolving the long-standing Palestinian cause.

He also reiterated his country’s recognition of the State of Palestine as an independent country based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Nunes called on the countries of the world to lend a helping hand to the UN refugee agency, UNRWA, to enable it to fulfill its responsibilities in the aftermath of the US decision to scale back millions of dollars worth of aid subsidies to the Agency. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)