War in the Middle East: Cassis senses frustration in UN Security Council over Middle East crisis

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On the sidelines of the Security Council debate, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also held a series of bilateral talks on Tuesday (local time). He met, among others, his Russian colleague Sergei Lavrov. It was the first meeting between the two politicians since September 2022. Switzerland is trying to initiate a negotiation process for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine in order to organize a peace conference.

Cassis has not made any specific statements to the media about the content of the conversation with Lavrov, which focused on war and peace. It’s about starting a dialogue. Because without Russia there will be no solution.

He plans similar talks with India, China and other countries in the coming days to explore “what path we can take” to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. It won’t be easy, Cassis warned. The positions of Russia and Ukraine are still diametrically opposed.

Cassis called for a ceasefire

The crisis in the Middle East was at the center of the open debate at the UN Security Council in New York. Under the French Presidency and at ministerial level, the Council debate is intended to contribute to concrete progress towards a political, security and humanitarian solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

In his speech, Foreign Minister Cassis again called for a permanent ceasefire and the implementation of the two UN Security Council resolutions adopted late last year.

Cassis spoke of a certain frustration about the conflict in the Middle East. Despite enormous efforts, hardly any effects can be seen. “But we must not give in to frustration. We must not be discouraged,” Cassis continued. “We must come together to take concrete steps toward a political solution to this conflict, which has already claimed the lives of far too many people.”

Looking for a two-state solution

On the path to lasting peace, several key points should be taken into account. The basis for lasting peace remains the creation of a two-state solution. “This is the solution that offers both Israelis and Palestinians the prospect of a life in peace and security,” Cassis said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week rejected the two-state solution, which UN Secretary General António Guterres described as “unacceptable” in the debate. When asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency if Cassis shared this assessment, he explained that Guterres was “very clear and harsh” with this verdict, which is quite rare.

The UN Secretary General has also been hit hard by the deaths of about 150 of his staff. Cassis said we must now try to use this moment of crisis to take a step forward. And you have to get used to the fact that more and more plain text is spoken.

Switzerland has its position

Asked whether he shared Guterres’ criticism, Cassis said it was not Switzerland’s place to criticize other countries. But Switzerland has its position. The Federal Council has clearly stated in its strategy that Switzerland will stick to the two-state solution. “And we must find a way to make this solution a reality.”

For this to happen, certain conditions are necessary. “Now it’s about talking about it,” Cassis says. What is important is the position the international community takes. And during the meeting it was clear that, with the exception of Israel, the countries speaking at the Security Council all wanted to move in the same direction. (SDA)

Source:Blick