WEBVTT 00:00:01.304 --> 00:00:02.904 Welcome. 00:00:03.587 --> 00:00:05.497 My dear friend Pedro, 00:00:06.208 --> 00:00:10.826 dear Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Sanchez. 00:00:10.947 --> 00:00:16.486 We had extremely constructive, fruitful discussions today. 00:00:16.974 --> 00:00:22.108 Of course, the discussions were dominated by the issue of Gaza, 00:00:22.408 --> 00:00:26.541 the humanitarian disaster, the terrible situation, 00:00:26.662 --> 00:00:34.580 and how Slovenia and Spain can best respond to this situation. 00:00:36.089 --> 00:00:42.000 I must say we have completely identical views in many ways. 00:00:42.297 --> 00:00:46.307 We are aware of our responsibility in the international community, 00:00:46.428 --> 00:00:51.305 we are aware of our responsibility to the people of Gaza. 00:00:52.465 --> 00:00:58.513 We certainly agree we cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening, 00:00:58.634 --> 00:01:04.825 and that we must come up with the next steps in the coming weeks. 00:01:06.130 --> 00:01:10.919 I would like to point out that the recognition of Palestine as a state 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:15.180 is only one of the steps, and that's how the discussions took place. 00:01:15.301 --> 00:01:17.303 This may be the first step, 00:01:17.424 --> 00:01:20.867 but it is certainly not the only one nor will it be sufficient. 00:01:20.988 --> 00:01:27.459 Most importantly, we addressed a whole range of different issues. 00:01:27.694 --> 00:01:33.692 When, not if, but when is the best moment 00:01:33.813 --> 00:01:37.412 to recognize Palestine as an independent state. 00:01:37.533 --> 00:01:43.500 We agreed to monitor each of these issues over time, 00:01:44.664 --> 00:01:48.500 to exchange not only information, but also views, 00:01:48.621 --> 00:01:54.004 and then come to a decision together in the foreseeable future. 00:01:54.793 --> 00:01:56.696 I don't want to talk about the timeline, 00:01:56.817 --> 00:02:00.244 because it doesn't only depend on Slovenia and Spain, 00:02:00.365 --> 00:02:04.600 it depends on a whole range of international factors, 00:02:04.721 --> 00:02:07.955 which start this month, 00:02:08.114 --> 00:02:11.230 when the UN General Assembly will vote on the resolution. 00:02:11.351 --> 00:02:15.461 I believe that the situation connected to Palestine 00:02:15.582 --> 00:02:18.910 will also begin to unravel then. 00:02:20.165 --> 00:02:24.776 We also addressed the question of a joint meeting of the governments 00:02:24.897 --> 00:02:27.903 of the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Slovenia, 00:02:28.024 --> 00:02:33.077 which will most likely take place in September or October in Spain 00:02:33.198 --> 00:02:37.485 and which will also serve to further deepen our excellent relations 00:02:37.606 --> 00:02:42.304 and to raise our economic relations to a higher level. 00:02:47.306 --> 00:02:48.906 Good afternoon. 00:02:49.519 --> 00:02:54.294 I want to begin this appearance by thanking my friend Robert 00:02:54.415 --> 00:02:59.578 and the Slovenian Government for their warm welcome in Ljubljana. 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:04.633 I think we have very healthy bilateral relations. 00:03:04.754 --> 00:03:08.554 This is the third occasion on which I am visiting Slovenia 00:03:08.675 --> 00:03:10.838 as the President of the Government of Spain. 00:03:10.959 --> 00:03:13.596 I would like to underline 00:03:13.717 --> 00:03:19.153 the good state of bilateral relations between Slovenia and Spain. 00:03:19.274 --> 00:03:23.059 I would also like to thank the Slovenian Government 00:03:23.180 --> 00:03:29.125 for the commitment, the courage and the coherence in searching 00:03:29.246 --> 00:03:35.604 for a peaceful solution to a conflict that stirs our consciences, 00:03:36.095 --> 00:03:41.061 such as the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. 00:03:41.825 --> 00:03:46.160 With the vote of Slovenia in the UN Security Council, 00:03:46.281 --> 00:03:50.491 with the voice of Slovenia and its Government in the European Council, 00:03:50.612 --> 00:03:56.994 and also with the participation of different governments of the EU, 00:03:57.115 --> 00:03:59.999 among them the Slovenian and the Spanish, 00:04:00.143 --> 00:04:04.109 where we announced our commitment to the recognition 00:04:04.413 --> 00:04:09.543 of a Palestinian State under the appropriate circumstances. 00:04:09.717 --> 00:04:16.110 Slovenian Government demonstrated coherence and courage 00:04:16.217 --> 00:04:19.603 and I would like to highlight and acknowledge it. 00:04:20.177 --> 00:04:24.843 The attacks and bombardments are going on for more than six months. 00:04:25.010 --> 00:04:30.190 There are more than 33,000 fatalities, 2 million hungry people, 00:04:30.397 --> 00:04:34.877 they are cold and afraid. Most of them are children. 00:04:35.243 --> 00:04:39.763 A whole region is facing the abyss 00:04:39.943 --> 00:04:45.250 because of the wrong decisions of a few. 00:04:45.670 --> 00:04:51.263 Today, I have again conveyed to the Slovenian Government our view, 00:04:51.503 --> 00:04:58.430 Iran's attack must be condemned in the strongest and clearest terms 00:04:58.563 --> 00:05:04.183 which is what we have done. And that is one more risk that we are facing. 00:05:04.817 --> 00:05:08.317 There are two paths in that sense, that of escalation. 00:05:08.503 --> 00:05:11.117 An escalation that leads us to nothing 00:05:11.397 --> 00:05:16.237 except a horizon of misery, pain and resentment, 00:05:16.563 --> 00:05:19.137 as we are unfortunately seeing. 00:05:19.463 --> 00:05:24.550 Or that of commitment to international legality and diplomacy. 00:05:24.837 --> 00:05:29.990 The only path that can lead so to peace and sustainable security 00:05:30.170 --> 00:05:35.870 in a region as important for the stability of international politics, 00:05:36.010 --> 00:05:37.723 as the Middle East. 00:05:37.890 --> 00:05:40.097 We have chosen the second. 00:05:40.243 --> 00:05:43.410 We have chosen it long ago 00:05:43.583 --> 00:05:48.003 out of humanity, out of respect for the multilateral system 00:05:48.170 --> 00:05:51.480 and because we remember the horrors of war. 00:05:51.770 --> 00:05:56.357 Our main mission is to look after the welfare of our fellow citizens 00:05:56.530 --> 00:05:58.130 and our neighbours. 00:05:58.223 --> 00:06:01.063 This is why today we have agreed 00:06:01.290 --> 00:06:04.430 that Slovenia and Spain are going to continue to demand 00:06:04.637 --> 00:06:06.963 an immediate cease fire, 00:06:07.183 --> 00:06:09.763 respect for international humanitarian law, 00:06:09.977 --> 00:06:12.697 access to humanitarian aid 00:06:12.957 --> 00:06:16.730 and also to give a perspective of a political horizon 00:06:16.863 --> 00:06:20.270 that resolves this conflict and, 00:06:20.397 --> 00:06:26.310 consequently the two-state solution as the only viable solution 00:06:26.403 --> 00:06:29.657 to reach a just peace in the region 00:06:29.930 --> 00:06:33.343 and to facilitate the implementation of this solution, 00:06:33.483 --> 00:06:39.703 we will support the accession of Palestine as a full member state 00:06:39.890 --> 00:06:44.303 in the United Nations and we will recognize the Palestinian State 00:06:44.537 --> 00:06:50.577 when the circumstances thus transfer this positive impact in a process 00:06:50.710 --> 00:06:52.583 that has to lead us to this ceasefire 00:06:52.763 --> 00:06:55.743 and to a diplomatic and political solution to this crisis. 00:06:56.017 --> 00:06:59.757 We trust that doing so will serve to send a message of hope, 00:06:59.917 --> 00:07:05.797 hope to millions of Gazans who are suffering the consequences of war, 00:07:06.003 --> 00:07:08.963 and for other Western countries to do the same. 00:07:09.130 --> 00:07:12.270 And to set in motion a political process between equals 00:07:12.503 --> 00:07:14.777 that will lead to a just and lasting peace 00:07:14.903 --> 00:07:18.343 for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, 00:07:18.497 --> 00:07:22.970 with whom we logically have ties of friendship and brotherhood. 00:07:23.497 --> 00:07:25.157 Thank you very much.