Lee Kyung-chul, Special Representative for Middle East Peace at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concurrently serving as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, attended the High-Level Ministerial Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on Thursday, September 24, held on the occasion of the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly. He also met with key officials from the United Nations, the European Union (EU), and other organizations and discussed a broad range of regional issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue and other issues in the Middle East.
※ The Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution was launched on September 26, 2024, on the occasion of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the EU, and Norway, as a mechanism to rally international support for the two-state solution and promote cooperation toward its realization.
Special Representative Lee shared the view that the two-state solution is the only internationally agreed solution capable of reconciling the Palestinian right to self-determination, Israel’s security, and lasting peace in the region, and reaffirmed the Korean government’s full and consistent support for the two-state solution. He went on to emphasize the need to reverse actions that undermine or weaken the two-state solution and prevent their recurrence, while expressing concern over recent settler violence and settlement construction in the West Bank.
※ Due to time constraints during the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, some of the listed speakers, including the Republic of Korea, submitted their statements in writing instead of delivering them in person. These statements were included in the official record.
Special Representative Lee stated that Korea will continue to contribute to supporting these goals through official development assistance (ODA), humanitarian assistance, and other efforts based on the S.H.I.N.E. Initiative, Korea’s initiative for the Middle East announced last year. He further noted that if the international community stands united in underscoring the value of the two-state solution and contributing to its realization, the window of opportunity will be further expanded.
※ The S.H.I.N.E. Initiative sets out a vision for cooperation with the Middle East in the areas of peace, prosperity, and culture under the five pillars of Stability, Harmony, Innovation, Network, and Education.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of his visit to the United Nations, Special Representative Lee met with △Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, △Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, △Christophe Bigot, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, and △Rabab Fatima, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). They exchanged views on major regional developments, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue, armed conflicts in the Middle East, and the situation in Afghanistan.