NEW YORK: Mauritania threw its weight behind international efforts to secure a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Saturday, backing a Saudi-French initiative while urging stronger global cooperation to tackle security, development and climate challenges.
Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug said Mauritania “fully supports the just cause of the Palestinian people,” and reaffirmed its position that peace in the Middle East depends on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He welcomed diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia and France to revive the long-stalled peace process.
“Palestine remains at the heart of our shared responsibility to uphold international law and the principles of justice,” Ould Merzoug told delegates, calling on the international community to take decisive steps to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.
He also underlined Mauritania’s broader commitment to the values of the UN Charter, stressing that dialogue, diplomacy and multilateral cooperation are the only effective tools to resolve global conflicts.
Ould Merzoug highlighted the security threats facing the Sahel region, where he said Mauritania and its neighbors continue to battle terrorism and instability.
He said the situation demands coordinated international support to confront extremist groups and address the humanitarian crises they create.
He also urged stronger partnerships between developed and developing nations, warning that poverty, inequality and climate change threaten to undermine international peace if left unaddressed.
Ould Merzoug stressed the importance of tackling food insecurity and the effects of climate change, both of which pose acute challenges to vulnerable countries.
He called for practical solutions that ensure sustainable growth while protecting the environment. “No country or people should be left behind in the pursuit of prosperity,” he said.
