Greece is “already one step closer to its declared position on the recognition of the State of Palestine” with the launch of the first phase of a political solution for the region, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has told his visiting Palestinian counterpart, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, in Athens.
Noting that their meeting came a day after the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit and the signing of the Gaza peace agreement, Gerapetritis described the accord as “tangible proof of the power of diplomacy.”
He stressed that the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority must be involved in all aspects of the peace plan.
“The achievement of a ceasefire to stop the bloodshed, the release of hostages, and the massive provision of humanitarian aid constitute a decisive first step toward a comprehensive settlement and the launch of a political process aimed at a two-state solution, based on relevant UN resolutions, as the only viable path to consolidate peace in the region,” he said.
Gerapetritis added that “the full participation of the Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority is required in all aspects of the plan’s implementation, in security, humanitarian aid, and the region’s reconstruction.”
He emphasized that Greece, “with traditionally strong ties to the Arab world,” has consistently supported the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people, and said Athens wants to see the stabilization of Gaza’s security situation and “the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza as fast as possible.”
In a post on X, Aghabekian Shahin warned of growing dangers in the West Bank as a result of the E1 settlement project, which she said threatens to divide the territory and undermine the prospects of establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.