India reiterated its support for a two-state solution and Palestine’s UN membership at a donor conference in Brussels…reports Asian Lite News Desk
India has reaffirmed its long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and backed Palestine’s membership of the United Nations during the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Palestine Donor Group (PDG) held in Brussels.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented India at the meeting, which was jointly organised by the European Commission and the Palestinian Authority. The event brought together representatives from European Union member states, Palestine, international partners and financial institutions to discuss support for the Palestinian people.
According to the MEA, Ranganathan highlighted India’s longstanding partnership with the Palestinian people and reiterated New Delhi’s continued support for a negotiated two-state solution and Palestine’s membership of the United Nations.
“At the meeting, the Secretary emphasised that India has been a long-standing partner of the Palestinian people, and reaffirmed India’s continued support to a two-state solution, as well as to Palestine’s membership of the UN. She underlined India’s ongoing developmental assistance, including capacity building programmes and humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine, noting that India’s projects are demand-driven and largely centred on healthcare, education, capacity building, and vocational training,” the MEA said in a statement.
The MEA said India is currently implementing several development projects in Palestine, including initiatives in healthcare, women’s empowerment and institution building. During the meeting, Ranganathan also announced a series of new projects focused on rehabilitation, healthcare, education and vocational training.
While in Brussels, the Secretary attended a meeting hosted by the incoming Chair of the Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), where she reiterated India’s continued support for the agency and its work in Palestine.
“India remains a dedicated partner that contributes tangibly towards meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Palestine,” the MEA stated.
India has consistently maintained its support for the Palestinian cause while advocating a negotiated two-state solution that results in the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
Last month, Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh expressed confidence in India’s continued support for the two-state solution.
In an interview with IANS, Abu Shawesh said, “We strongly believe that India stands strong to support the two-state solution. India used to support the Palestinian people when it came to the United Nations resolutions, voting in favour of the resolutions and even on the ground, India is heavily invested in the peace process and has implemented a lot of projects on the ground in Palestine. One very important issue: we are very close to starting a new project, or India is starting to implement a very important project, which is building a hospital in Palestine, particularly in the West Bank.”
