Joint Statement by
The High-level Advisory Council of
the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)
At the conclusion of their meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan (16 March 2024)
A CALL FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
We, the members of the High-Level Advisory Council for the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), convened in Baku, Azerbaijan to exchange views on the existential challenges that our world is facing today with a focus on the war in Gaza.
The war in Gaza, now in its 6th month, is a testament of the appalling impotence of the global order and the fragility of international relations as well as allowing major violations of international law and international humanitarian law to go unhindered. The level of death and destruction is shocking in itself. The war is also spilling over borders across the region and affecting global trade.
It is imperative to reach an agreement on an immediate, full and sustained ceasefire and an unhindered humanitarian access.
Against the aforementioned backdrop, we, members of the High-Level Advisory Council for the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC),
1. Demand all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law and, in this regard, deploring all attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as all violence and hostilities against civilians, and all acts of terrorism;
2. Call for the release of all hostages abducted by Hamas and other groups, and urge all parties, especially Israel, to fully comply with their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain in full respect of the Provisions of the 4th Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons on time of war;
3. Stress that lasting peace will only be achieved when the Israeli occupation ends in the Palestinian occupied territories;
4. Express unequivocal rejection of the extensive devastation and destruction inflicted on Gaza including the loss of lives of more than 30,000 civilians as well as the civilian casualties in the West Bank;
5. Agree that the only solution is a political solution i.e. the “Two-State solution”, stressing that now is the time for the recognition of the State of Palestine, noting that the conflict is not a religious conflict but rather a political and territorial one;
6. Call for the implementation of all resolutions relevant to a “Two-State solution” to resolve the long-lasting Palestinian-Israeli conflict including, in this regard, relevant Security Council resolutions, statements by United States Administration, the European Union, the African Union, the UN General Assembly as well as the Arab Peace Initiative;
7. Convinced that the only way forward to guarantee a future settlement is placing the recognition of a viable and independent Palestinian State at the forefront of any political process;
8. Emphasize that the international community is encouraged to heed this call for peace. Once achieved, the two sides should begin negotiating the main pending final “status issues” including borders, territories, security, settlements, refugees, and Jerusalem. Aforementioned issues should be negotiated by the two parties under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General, supported and facilitated by the main global actors;
9. Reject all forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia as well as bigotry against Jews, Muslims, Arabs, and Christians; stressing that this is an existential conflict and attempts to characterize it otherwise is a distraction from the real problem and a distortion of historical truths;
10. Stress the importance of rebuilding peace camps on both sides in due course, noting that as the humanitarian issues are gradually being resolved, efforts should focus on addressing the psychological and mental health traumas inflicted on both societies; and underscoring that the international community should work on creating the conditions for building trust, respect and reconciliation as the basis for a sincere and constructive dialogue;
11. We, the members of the High-Level Advisory Council for the High Representative for the UNAOC believe that the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations should use all its capacity to mobilize all main stakeholders to enforce a Culture of Peace and mutual respect for Palestinians and Israelis; in this regard reiterate our commitment to assisting both sides emanating from our belief that both , Palestinians and the Israelis deserve a future of dignity and peace; re-iterate that the solution is ultimately that of the two States , Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Members of the High-Level Advisory Council for the High Representative for the UNAOC Participating in the meeting and Signatories of this statement (in alphabetical order)
- His Excellency Mr. Amre Moussa, (Chair) Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States
- His Excellency Mr. Ammar Abdelwahed El Khudairy, Founding Chairman, Amwal Capital Partners
- Her Excellency Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Austria, Former European Commissioner for External Relations
- His Excellency Mr. Egemen Bağış, Ph.D., Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Prague, Czech Republic, Former Minister for European Union Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye
- Dr. Elkhalil M. Binebine, businessman, Morocco
- Her Excellency Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Former President of the Republic of Croatia
- Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Ecuador
Her Excellency Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia (1999-2007), Co-Chair of NGIC - His Excellency Dr. Yehuda Lancry, Former Ambassador of Israel to France, Former Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations
- His Excellency Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for UNAOC