88 countries support Spain’s proposed Mideast peace conference: Foreign minister

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain’s foreign minister on Tuesday said that 88 countries now support Spain’s idea for a conference to achieve lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.

“The plan was proposed by Spain’s prime minister, was adopted by the 27 EU states in October, and now it is endorsed by countries in the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation,” Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser.

He said the proposed peace plan is not about merely talking about a two-state solution, it is about practically recognizing and establishing a viable Palestinian state.

"Peace is also known as the recognition and establishment of a realistic and viable Palestinian state," he said.

“One state already exists – Israel. It’s the other one that is missing and that’s where we are going to put all our effort,” he said.

Albares added the aim isn’t to “add more tension” to the conflict.

“But if any of the parties act in bad faith and show they aren’t interested in peace at all, Spain won’t stand by and do nothing. We will continue working for peace and making sovereign decisions,” he said, referring to Spain’s commitment to recognize the Palestinian state.

Albares said Monday after a foreign affairs ministers’ meeting in Brussels that he hopes the entire international community will come together to recognize Palestine during the peace conference.

“Recognition of Palestine isn’t a beautiful philosophical idea, it’s central to the main goal, which is peace,” Albares said in Tuesday’s interview.

He added: “The hope of the Palestinian people is intimately linked with Israel’s security. Both the Palestinian and Israeli people have the same right to live in safety, peace and in a recognized state.”

He recognized that while there is consensus around the need for a lasting peace, the EU is still not speaking with a single voice in terms of a permanent cease-fire, something that Spain is advocating for.

“It’s true that we don’t fully agree, but we’re much closer to having a single voice than we were in October,” he said, explaining how “more and more” European states are "coming closer" to Spain’s point of view.

Committed to “de-escalation” and pushing forward the peace process, later on Tuesday Albares will travel to Beirut, Lebanon, where he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, a last-minute trip organized at last week’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

After Lebanon, Albares is set to visit Iraq, where he is slated to meet with Spain’s military forces in the country, as well as the Iraqi president and prime minister.