His Majesty King Abdullah II on Monday attended the MED9 Leaders’ Summit of Southern European Countries in Portorož, Slovenia, during which he urged joint action by Middle Eastern and Southern European countries, in coordination with the United States and other partners, to ensure that all parties commit to all stages of the agreement to end the war in Gaza, to pave the way for stability in the region.

During the summit, attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, His Majesty emphasised the pivotal role of the European Union in implementing the agreement, which includes supporting the efforts of the Palestinian National Authority in serving the interests of Palestinians.

The King also stressed the importance of working concurrently on strengthening the humanitarian response in Gaza, and ensuring that sufficient aid reaches all parts of the Strip to mitigate the war’s catastrophic consequences.

His Majesty spoke about the two-state solution conference held recently in New York and jointly organised by Saudi Arabia and France, calling for building on the outcomes of the conference, and for more countries to recognise the State of Palestine.

The King asserted the need for comprehensive calm in the West Bank and Jerusalem, warning of the dangers of unilateral measures and urging support for the steadfastness of Palestinians on their land.

His Majesty said ongoing challenges facing the Middle East and Southern Europe require continued cooperation and coordination, noting that the MED9 Summit reflects commitment to enhancing dialogue and raising the level of coordination to address shared challenges.

The MED9 Summit is attended by leaders and state representatives from Southern European countries, including Slovenia, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Croatia, which are the nine European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza and all its provisions were discussed during the summit, as well as subsequent steps for implementing all phases, and the potential roles that MED9 member states could play to ensure the agreement’s success, leading to a complete end to the war and the creation of a real horizon for lasting peace.

The summit addressed the importance of maintaining comprehensive calm in the West Bank and preventing any attempts or actions that threaten security and stability and undermine the two-state solution.

The King expressed his appreciation for the invitation to participate in the summit for a second consecutive year, which affirms the depth of Jordan’s relations with Slovenia and Southern European countries.

During a working lunch for the leaders of the participating delegations, His Majesty highlighted the importance of exploring ways to build on economic growth opportunities between the countries of the Middle East and Southern Europe.