Saudi Arabia and Italy stressed on Wednesday the need to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, disarm factions in the enclave and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. They also rejected all Israeli attempts to annex the occupied West Bank and displace the Palestinian people. They reiterated their support for the two-state solution, saying it was the only way to achieve just and lasting peace in the region. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani in Rome on the sidelines of the meeting of the co-chairs of the working groups of the New York conference and members of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. They reviewed regional developments and underlined the strength of the bilateral strategic partnership between Riyadh and Rome. They welcomed the outcome of the meetings of the global alliance, reaffirming their support for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, highlighting the role of interfaith dialogue in achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. Turning to the region, the ministers underscored the importance of respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, and stressed the need to safeguard freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden and international sea lanes, in accordance with UNCLOS. They acknowledged the contribution of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR Aspides, and of Italy in particular, to protecting merchant shipping. On Yemen, they encouraged all parties to engage constructively in a political process with a view to reaching a comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict. They condemned the Houthis’ attacks against Saudi Arabia, including attacks targeting civilian infrastructures and critical facilities, as well as the threats posed to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. They stressed the importance of humanitarian and development assistance to Yemen, and their support for the Yemeni people. They underlined the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, opposing any unilateral measures that could restrict maritime transit, and underlined their commitment to the Rome Coalition on Fertilizer Access and Food Security in Hormuz to strengthen supply chains and food security, particularly for vulnerable countries in Africa and the Mediterranean. The FMs welcomed the continued development of bilateral relations and stressed their determination to further strengthen cooperation in all key sectors, building on the strategic partnership between the two countries. The ministers agreed to remain in close contact and continue coordinating their efforts in support of regional stability, peace and security, as well as the advancement of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
