Federica Mogherini addressed the heads of state and government of the League of Arab States during the bloc’s summit in Jordan yesterday. Her participation highlighted the growing cooperation between the European Union and the Arab League. Mogherini’s participation in the summit focused on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, on the situation in Syria and Iraq, on Libya and on Yemen.

“No regional or global power alone – Mogherini said – holds the key to stabilising the Middle East and North Africa. Peace in our region requires everyone’s constructive contribution. It requires cooperation – between Europe and the Arab world, within the Arab world and within the broader region – more than ever before.” She went on to quote His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, who recently said: “We need to open up new channels between continents and nations; within countries; and among people.”

While in Jordan, Mogherini met with King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Hani Mulki, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Al-Safadi. She also met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and with the United States Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt.

The High Representative discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestine in a meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. In her speech, Mogherini noted that “the two-state solution remains the only realistic way to end the conflict and all claims.” The European Union, she added, “will continue to work for the unity of the entire international community to this aim, including with our American friends.”
The summit was also an opportunity to prepare for the international conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region, to be hosted in Brussels on 5 April. Mogherini explained that the conference would aim at building on the achievements of the London donors’ conference, strengthening international support for the UN-mediated intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, and would also “start planning for the day when a credible political transition will be firmly underway.” “Our commitment to reconstruction can provide a very powerful leverage, to facilitate the talks, end the war, give hope,” she told Arab leaders.

Mogherini also discussed how to accompany and facilitate a solution of the Libyan political crisis, after the European Union, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations joined forces in the new Quartet for Libya. She announced that the next meeting of the Quartet would be held in Brussels.

A recent EU-League of Arab States ministerial meeting in Cairo agreed to strengthen dialogue and practical cooperation between the two regional organisations.

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Press release

Mogherini speech at the summit’s opening session

The EU and the Arab League