Luxembourg urges EU debate on Palestine recognition
December 10, 2019, 10:20 am

Luxembourg urges EU debate on Palestine recognition

EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell (R) talks to Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn during a EU Foreign Ministers council in Brussels, Belgium, December 9, 2019. (Reuters)

Luxembourg on Monday asked for an EU-level debate on recognizing Palestinian statehood, securing a promise that EU foreign ministers would “deeply discuss” the Middle East in January.

In a note to the new EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, who took office last week, Luxembourg’s veteran foreign minister Jean Asselborn said a discussion could support efforts to find a “two-state” solution to the Middle East conflict.

The letter, seen by AFP during an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday, suggests that member states could debate recognition at a future get-together.

Any decision on establishing diplomatic relations with a new state would be taken by individual member states, but Asselborn wants an EU-level discussion at the least.

“The European Union must continue to promote and support the consensus in favor of the two-State solution,” Asselborn wrote to Borrell, who was Spain’s foreign minister before moving to Brussels.

“One way to help save this solution would be to create a more equitable situation for both parties.”

“In this regard, I believe that it is time to start a debate within the European Union on the opportunity of a recognition of the State of Palestine by all its Member States.”

After the meeting, Borrell told reporters that ministers had agreed to add a discussion of the situation in the Middle East and the peace process to the agenda for their next gathering in January.

Israel and its ally the United States oppose the recognition of Palestine as a state, arguing that this would prejudice efforts to find a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

But, to some European capitals, Washington has already put its finger on the scales by recognizing the divided city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv.

In his letter, Asselborn complains that Israel’s building of settlements on occupied land also endangers the peace process and is a “flagrant violation” of international law.

“The recognition of Palestine as a State would neither be a favor, nor a blank cheque, but a simple recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to their own State,” he argued.

“In no way would it be directed against Israel.”

There is sympathy for this position in Europe, but the EU has not taken a united position on Palestinian statehood, regarding it as an issue for member states.

source : AFP, Brussels

Erdogan says Turkey aims to settle one mln refugees in Syria offensive area GCC leaders arrive in Riyadh for 40th Summit

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.