GENEVA
The top Spanish diplomat called for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as EU foreign ministers gathered in New York for informal talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday.
"This is a time to say no to war, no to the war in Gaza and Ukraine, yes to the United Nations, yes to multilateralism, as Spain does every day,” Jose Manuel Albares said in his recorded remarks.
He warned against "the endless violence without any objective beyond turning Gaza into a vast graveyard" and insisted that Europe "will not allow and will not have a natural and normal relationship with those who want to make the two-state solution unviable." Spain, he added, will continue to push for EU sanctions on Israel.
Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, for his part, stressed that recognition of Palestine "is not a gesture against Israel," on the contrary, it's having peace in Palestine that will also allow for security in Israel,” while warning that international law “is taking a hit.”
Romania's Oana-Silvia Toiu, for her part, underlined her country's support for Kyiv as Ukraine's neighbor while also pointing to the crisis in Gaza.
"We are among the friendliest neighbors of Ukraine, the one with the longest border. And we are here to clearly condemn Russia's aggression in Ukraine," she said, and added that "we cannot ignore the humanitarian crisis going on in Gaza."
Margus Tsahkna, Estonia's foreign minister, sounded alarms over Russia’s alleged actions after fighter jets violated his country's airspace.
"If Russia is talking about peace, it means more war," the minister said.