Turkish, Egyptian, Pakistani and Saudi Foreign Ministers Issue Joint Istanbul Statement: Israeli Occupation Is the Root Cause of Regional Instability, Two-State Solution Must Come Soon
ISTANBUL — The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement after meeting in Istanbul on the evening of October 23, setting out common positions on Palestine, Yemen and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and agreeing to maintain close consultations on the issues.
The statement said Israel's occupation is the fundamental source of instability in the region and beyond, called for the early implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, and expressed support for an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The four countries condemned Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem and settler violence against Palestinians, and stressed that humanitarian aid must continue to flow into Gaza without interruption and that Gaza's reconstruction must advance.
On Yemen, the four ministers strongly condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, demanding that the Houthis immediately cease all military actions, threats and attacks and return to the political process. The statement added that blocked sea lanes disrupt global supply chains and the transport of energy, fertilizer and food; insisted that the US-Israel-Iran conflict be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy; expressed support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding; opposed measures and restrictions obstructing lawful navigation; and called for the full restoration of free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.
(GSM, from CCTV News, October 23, and the joint statement as carried by the Saudi Press Agency)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 伊斯坦布尔天际线，资料图。照片：SegLig，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons
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