His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, participated on 28 November in the 10th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, held in Barcelona, Spain, under the joint presidency of the European Union and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that Mr. Aboul Gheit’s participation in the forum reflects the League of Arab States' commitment to boosting its engagement with influential international and regional organisations. The Secretary-General opened his remarks by expressing his appreciation to Mr. José Manuel Álvarez, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, for his warm hospitality. He also commended the efforts of Ambassador Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, in advancing the organisation’s work.
The spokesperson added that the Secretary-General addressed the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly the Gaza Strip, stressing that Palestinians have endured a brutal war over the past two years, the most severe and violent since the Nakba of 1948. This war has claimed the lives of more than 67,000 people, mostly women and children, and has led to the near-total destruction of infrastructure and institutions in the Gaza Strip. Mr. Aboul Gheit also referred to constructive European positions that upheld the values of humanity and justice during the crisis, underscoring that the movement to recognise the State of Palestine plays a crucial role in ensuring the Palestinian cause remains at the forefront of the international agenda. He called for sustained joint Arab-European efforts to reach a lasting settlement and establish an independent Palestinian state.
The spokesperson further indicated that the Secretary-General addressed the situation in Sudan, describing it as the world’s gravest humanitarian catastrophe, with approximately nine million internally displaced persons and more than 3.5 million refugees. He called for a humanitarian truce as a first step towards a political settlement that preserves Sudan’s unity and the integrity of its institutions.
Regarding Libya, the Secretary-General welcomed the UN roadmap aimed at unifying state institutions and holding elections, considering the signing of the Unified Development Programme Agreement by the House of Representatives and the High Council of State a step in the right direction.
The spokesperson added that Mr. Aboul Gheit highlighted the profound challenges confronting the Mediterranean region, including climate, energy, food security, migration, and development, stressing that these challenges can only be overcome through collective action grounded in mutual understanding, shared interests, and respect.
The Secretary-General concluded his remarks by affirming that the League of Arab States remains a reliable partner and steadfast supporter of Arab-European cooperation at all levels, noting the anticipation surrounding the Sixth Ministerial Meeting and the Second Arab-European Summit, which are expected to mark a significant milestone in shaping a strategic partnership that meets the aspirations of the peoples on both shores of the Mediterranean.
