Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, met on 24 September with Mr. Paulo Rangel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, on the sidelines of the high-level segment of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Gamal Roshdy, the Secretary-General's official spokesperson, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit expressed the League of Arab States' appreciation for Portugal’s supportive stance on the Palestinian cause and its important decision to recognise the State of Palestine on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, in line with the historical positions of several European and Western countries. He also conveyed his best wishes for Portugal’s success during its upcoming term on the Security Council for 2027–2028.
The spokesperson added that both parties voiced their rejection of the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, warning of the grave regional repercussions of continued Israeli attacks on the sovereignty of countries in the region. The two sides reaffirmed that the two-state solution remains the sole basis for achieving comprehensive peace and stability in the Middle East, underscoring the necessity of intensifying international pressure on Israel by prohibiting the export of weapons and ammunition used to kill innocent civilians in Gaza. Mr. Aboul Gheit commended Lisbon’s efforts months earlier to impose such a ban on the occupying power.
The official spokesperson concluded by noting that the two sides agreed on the importance of strengthening coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern.
