Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the Cairo Peace Summit - October 21, 2023

Heads of States, Majesties, Highnesses, Governments, Ministers and Heads of Delegations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world is following with anxiety and hope the Cairo Peace Conference today. Therefore, I congratulate the Egyptian Government for its efforts in organizing this summit expeditiously. The mission President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva conferred to me, while instructing me to attend this meeting on his behalf, was unambiguous: to add Brazil’s voice to all those who are urging calm, restraint, and peace in the region.

Brazil has been following with concern the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the security situation in the region recently and over the past months. We regret to witness such conditions in the year of the thirtieth anniversary of the Oslo Accords. Had we seen progress ever since, we would be celebrating peace and friendship. Yet the situation before us today is very dire.

The Brazilian government unequivocally rejects and condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7th, as well as the taking of civilian hostages. Brazilian nationals are among the victims, three of them were murdered in Israel.

Like many other countries, Brazil also has citizens waiting to be evacuated from Gaza, while we watch with alarm the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, especially the shortage of medical supplies, food, water, electricity and fuel. Israel, as the occupying power, has specific responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law. These must be complied with under any circumstances.

Over the past decades, we have witnessed no winners in this protracted conflict. And the civilian population remains the main victim of the lack of dialogue and ever-growing resentment.

The stalemate in the peace process; the social and economic stagnation that has long prevailed in Gaza; the ongoing expansion of israeli settlements in the occupied territories, the violence against civilians, the destruction of basic infrastructure, violations of the historic “status quo” of holy sites in Jerusalem, all these factors combine to generate a social and cultural environment that jeopardizes the “two state solution” and engenders hatred, violence and extremism.

Excellencies,

The ongoing tragic situation in the Gaza Strip is of paramount concern. Whereas there always will be those willing to add fuel to the fire, Brazil will urge for dialogue.

The destruction of civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities is unacceptable. We witnessed with dismay the bombing of Al Ahli-Arab hospital, deeply regret and mourn the hundreds of civilian casualties, including patients, doctors, nurses and other humanitarian workers.

All parties must fully protect civilians and respect international law and international humanitarian law.

The international community must exert maximum diplomatic efforts in order to ensure the swift establishment of humanitarian corridors and pauses and an immediate cease fire.

As stated by President Lula, the current crisis requires an urgent multilateral humanitarian action to end the suffering of civilians caught up in the midst of the hostilities.

As president of the United Nations Security Council for the month of October, Brazil has convened emergency sessions and fostered dialogue.

Despite such efforts, the Security Council was regrettably unable to adopt a resolution on October 18. Nevertheless, the many favourable votes the draft resolution received - 12 out of 15 – are evidence of wide political support for speedy action by the Council. We believe this view is shared by the international community at large.

Let me be clear: there is a broad political call for the opening of urgently needed humanitarian pauses, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the protection of humanitarian personnel.

We must find ways to unblock multilateral action. Brazil will spare no efforts in this regard. On October 24, I will chair the United Nations Security Council’s Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation of the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question. I would suggest that we continue this conversation there, at the highest possible level, in an attempt to keep searching for consensus for immediate action. The paralysis of the Security Council is having detrimental consequences for the security and the lives of millions. This is not in the interest of the international community.

We must also strive to avoid any possibility of regional spill over of the conflict.

Further down the road, we must find ways to revitalize the peace process, to advance political negotiations towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Simply managing the conflict is not an acceptable alternative. Only the resumption of effective negotiations can bring concrete results towards the implementation of the two-state solution, in accordance with all relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, with Israel and Palestine living in peace and security, within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders.

Brazil is ready and willing to support all efforts to that end.

Thank you.