Ashraf AboArafe
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy received Slovenian President Natasha Pirc Musar at the League’s headquarters in Cairo on Tuesday, November 3, for talks on regional developments, particularly the Palestinian cause, and ways to strengthen relations between the League of Arab States and Slovenia. Fahmy expressed his appreciation for the Slovenian president’s principled positions in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the two-state solution. He praised her rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, her calls for civilian protection and respect for international law without double standards, and her opposition to settlement expansion, which undermines prospects for peace. Discussions focused on the situation in the Gaza Strip, with Fahmy stressing the urgent need to consolidate the ceasefire and ensure the sustained, sufficient and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. He reiterated the categorical rejection of any attempt to displace the Palestinian people from their land. The Arab League chief also underscored the importance of intensifying international efforts to end Israel’s illegal occupation and implement the two-state solution, leading to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He emphasized that these efforts must be grounded in relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, warning that continued settlement expansion, annexation schemes and unilateral Israeli measures are eroding the foundations for a just and lasting peace. The meeting also addressed broader regional developments. Fahmy emphasized the importance of prioritizing political and diplomatic solutions, respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of states, and preventing further escalation that could threaten regional security and stability. Both sides discussed ways to sustain dialogue and consultation between the Arab League and Slovenia on matters of mutual interest, while advancing Arab-European cooperation in support of peace, stability and international understanding. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of principled diplomacy, international law and constructive dialogue in building bridges between nations and safeguarding the prospects for peace.
