The Foreign Minister discusses Middle East issues at the Munich Security Conference
On Saturday, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in a high-level panel discussion on Middle East issues, held as part of the Munich Security Conference. The session, titled "Building on Momentum: From Promises to Progress," focused on current challenges and opportunities to enhance stability in the region.
The session witnessed a prominent diplomatic presence, as His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs was joined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bassam Sabbagh (or Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, as mentioned in the source), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, in addition to the Senior Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, and the Vice-President of the Munich Security Conference and President of the European Institute of Peace, Helga Schmid.
Developments in Gaza and the region
Developments in the Gaza Strip topped the agenda of the session, where the serious humanitarian and security repercussions of the ongoing war were reviewed. Participants discussed ways to halt the escalation and protect civilians, emphasizing the need to intensify international efforts to ensure the urgent and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected in the Strip, given the dire conditions faced by the population.
The discussion also extensively addressed the importance of advancing development in the region as an integral part of a comprehensive security framework. It was emphasized that military solutions alone cannot achieve sustainable security; rather, they must be accompanied by political and economic solutions that guarantee the future of the region's people.
The two-state solution initiative and the Syrian issue
In the search for lasting solutions to the conflict, participants emphasized the importance of supporting the two-state solution as the cornerstone for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Discussions affirmed that recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establishing their independent state is the key to ending the decades-long cycle of violence.
Regarding the Syrian issue, the session discussed ways to enhance security and economic stability in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the need to create the appropriate conditions for the return of refugees and the start of early recovery processes, in a way that guarantees Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and restores its role in the Arab and regional environment.
The importance of the Munich Security Conference
The Munich Security Conference holds immense strategic importance as the world's foremost platform for discussing international security policies. Each year, the conference brings together hundreds of decision-makers, heads of state, ministers, and leaders of international organizations to exchange views on traditional and non-traditional security threats. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's active participation in this forum underscores its pivotal and leading role in shaping political directions aimed at preserving international peace and security, and its tireless efforts to build bridges of diplomatic dialogue to resolve regional crises.
The session concluded by emphasizing the need to coordinate international efforts to reduce escalation in various hotspots, and to work diligently to create conditions for reaching sustainable political solutions that guarantee political stability and promote human and economic development for all the peoples of the region.
