Foreign Minister Riyad Malki (right) with his Irish counterpart, Simon Coveney, (WAFA Images) 

RAMALLAH, June 7, 2018 (WAFA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Malki met on Thursday in Ramallah with his Irish counterpart, Simon Coveney, and discussed the latest political developments and bilateral relations.

Malki briefed his Irish guest on the political situation on the ground, especially with regard to the status of Jerusalem in light of the recent American recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its transfer to its embassy in Israel to the holy city.

They also discussed ways to strengthen and develop bilateral relations, including promotion of economic and trade ties, the possibility of increasing scholarships for Palestinian students seeking to study in Ireland, in addition to benefiting from the Irish experience in the field of investment and information technology.

Malki also briefed the Irish minister on the developments in the Gaza Strip and the difficulties faced by the Palestinian Authority as a result of Israel‘s aggressive military actions against Palestinian people everywhere, especially in the Gaza Strip, and the large number of Palestinians killed and wounded by Israeli forces.

He thanked Ireland for its support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is the right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, praising the political positions of the Irish Foreign Minister on the Palestinian issue, the most recent of which was his position on the events in the Gaza Strip, in which he condemned Israel‘s excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators in the Gaza Strip on May 14 and summoning the Israeli ambassador to protest the events in the Gaza Strip, as well as the recent statement in which he expressed his grave concern at the situation of the Bedouin communities in Khan al-Ahmar, in which he called on Israel to stop the demolition decision because it is contrary to international law.

For his part, Coveney said his country attaches great importance to the peace process in the Middle East and that his country urges the parties to make progress despite the challenges they have faced in recent weeks and months.

The Irish minister affirmed Ireland‘s appreciation and respect for the role played by President Mahmoud Abbas to find a peaceful solution through negotiations for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and his constant commitment to engage in positive and constructive negotiations leading to finding a solution to all outstanding issues.

He stressed that his country‘s positions on all issues related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are fully consistent with international laws and relevant United Nations resolutions, pointing out Ireland‘s desire to see the Palestinians achieve reconciliation and unity in order to face the next phase in one voice.

He said his country would like to see many projects that have state characteristics as well as important to achieve prosperity and progress in Palestine.

M.K.