Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Loverdos participated in the High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution, held at the United Nations Headquarters from July 28 to 30, 2025.
In his intervention, Mr. Loverdos emphasized the utmost importance of supporting the prospects of a two-state solution as a fundamental prerequisite for the long-term stability and peace in the entire Middle East.
He noted that Greece had from the outset unequivocally condemned the terrorist acts of Hamas and other radical groups and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held in Gaza. He stated that Greece maintains a firm stance against antisemitism and stressed the need to remain united in combating antisemitism and hate rhetoric.
The Deputy Minister referred to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing the need to ensure sustainable and unhindered delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid. Mr. Loverdos stated that Greece consistently contributes to UNRWA, WHO, and UNICEF for the children of Palestine and receives injured children from Gaza in its hospitals.
He welcomed the Israeli government's decision to implement humanitarian pauses and access through corridors, as a sign of the tangible results of constructive dialogue. He noted that humanitarian aid must not become politicized and underlined the central role of the UN and its agencies in providing it.
Regarding the future of Gaza, the Deputy Minister stressed that a prerequisite for the next day is the complete dismantling of Hamas, which should have no role in governance and future discussions.
He called for the strengthening of the Palestinian Security Forces and noted the need for a empowered, reformed Palestinian Authority, which will have exclusive control over the legitimate use of force, a unified legal framework, transparency and accountability, and the capacity of exerting good and effective governance over the West Bank and eventually over Gaza as well.
He described the Arab Plan for Gaza as a good basis and underlined Greece's strong opposition to any displacement of Palestinians, as well as its readiness to participate in the plan, provided there is an effective and permanent resolution of the issue of Hamas’ disarmament.
The Deputy Minister also referred to the importance of upholding and protecting the status quo in Jerusalem and the Holy Sites. He praised the invaluable services offered by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate’s Monastery of Saint Porphyrios in Gaza to the affected population, regardless of race or religion.
In conclusion, Mr. Loverdos noted the need for a regional security architecture that can fully and effectively guarantee the security of both Israelis and Palestinians, paving the way for a two-state solution and sustainable peace.
Deputy Minister Loverdos also participated in the UN Security Council discussion on peacekeeping operations, titled: "Adapting Peace operations for the pursuit of political solutions – priorities and challenges."
In his statement, the Deputy Minister reiterated Greece’s gratitude to those serving under the most challenging conditions in peacekeeping missions and condemned all attacks and hostile acts against them. He reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to strengthening political unity within the Security Council on peacekeeping issues.
He called on the Security Council to place political solutions at the core of peacekeeping operations in order to address the root causes of conflicts.
Finally, he emphasized the need to ensure the necessary resources and tools for peacekeeping operations to successfully fulfill their mandates.
July 30, 2025