Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has called for the creation of a peace conference between Israel and Palestine that aims to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East. He urged Israel to commit to providing security guarantees for Palestinians. The prospect of widening the conflict concerns Spain, stated Albares during a press conference in Ankara, Turkey after meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
During a official visit to Anatolia, Albares is also scheduled to meet Turkey’s Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek. The Spanish foreign minister’s visit seeks to lay groundwork for a high-level meeting between the two governments planned for this summer in Madrid, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to travel.
“We discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire. A durable peace between Israel and Palestine can only be achieved through a two-state solution. Yet Israel is currently leaving more than two million people facing hunger. Turkey expects the Israeli government to be held accountable for these crimes”, Fidan said at a joint press conference with Albares.
“In this context, Spain’s position is clear”, the Spanish foreign minister continued. He condemned Hamas attacks that left 1,400 Israelis dead. But he noted that 31,000 Palestinian lives lost is far too many. It is not only about bombs; hunger is a critical issue. Humanitarian aid must reach those in need, and concrete steps are required. The lesson from this tragedy is that Israelis and Palestinians must sincerely pursue a durable resolution.”
Europe’s stalled entry
[Caution: The following discussion reflects diplomatic positions and is intended for summarizing recent meetings. Citations forthcoming.]
In the meeting, Albares and Fidan also addressed the war between Ukraine and Russia, the close commercial ties between Spain and Turkey, and Turkey’s stalled EU accession process. Turkey began its accession process in 2005, but the path toward Europe is currently on hold with little sign of a quick revival.
“Spain has supported Turkey’s EU entry from the start, and we appreciate that, but we must insist that Turkey’s accession not be left to the agendas of a few member states”, Fidan remarked, subtly referencing concerns from France and Germany, the two bloc members most hesitant about Turkey’s EU bid. “We continue to advocate dialogue. For Spain, Turkey is a very important ally”, Albares reiterated [Citation: Spanish Foreign Ministry briefing, 2024].