Foreign ministers from Middle East, Nordic region and Benelux countries in Oslo Friday 15 for high-level meeting on Gaza
News story | Date: 15/12/2023 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
‘I look forward to bringing these countries together for an open and frank discussion about the war in Gaza. While the countries that will be taking part in the meeting are affected to varying degrees, they all share a deep concern about the people of Gaza. There is an urgent need to stop the war and bring an end to the enormous suffering in Gaza,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
The high-level meeting has been organised in response to a request from the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, who heads a Ministerial Committee, which was appointed by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in Riyadh on 11 November. The delegation is visiting Norway for discussions on the war between Israel and Hamas and the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In addition to the Qatari Prime Minister and the foreign ministers of Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will be participating. Finland will be represented at state secretary level. The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will also be taking part in the meeting.
‘I am concerned about the increasing polarisation between countries as result of the war, and I hope that this meeting can help to counter this. We will also discuss the need to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and to renew international cooperation aimed at realising a two-state solution. The countries of the Middle East have an important role to play in this context,’ Mr Eide said.
The Ministerial Committee has previously visited a number of other capitals including Beijing, London, Moscow, Ottawa, Paris and Washington DC.
Accreditation and practical information
After the meeting, there will be a press conference at the Government Guest House in Riddervolds gate 2 at 16:00.
Members of the press who wish to attend the press conference must apply for accreditation here: https://form.arkon.no/?id=10079&key=yeApxy
Members of the press who are covering the press conference must arrive at Riddervolds gate 2 no later than 15:00.
Pictures from the meeting will be uploaded to the Ministry’s photo library and will be available here:
Press contact: Communications Adviser Guri Solberg, guri.solberg@mfa.no, mobile phone: + 47 92 21 97 69