The foreign ministers of the R4 Group, consisting of Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, issued a joint declaration following a meeting held in Istanbul. The declaration stated that issues of common interest were discussed with the aim of contributing to regional peace and stability.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts by emphasizing the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. The joint text highlighted the Palestinian issue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, developments in Yemen, and maritime security.
The ministers emphasized that the Israeli occupation constitutes the root cause of instability in the region and beyond, and that Israeli policies create a deep sense of injustice in global public opinion. They called for the immediate implementation of a two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
In the declaration, support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people was reiterated to ensure comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The ministers emphasized the right to establish an independent, sovereign, viable, and geographically contiguous Palestinian State based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The R4 countries stated that Israeli violence and attempts to change the legal and historical status of Jerusalem must be ended immediately. The declaration also called for an end to the destruction and humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine.
EMPHASIS ON YEMEN, MARITIME SECURITY, AND DIPLOMACY
The text, which condemned settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem as well as settler violence against Palestinians, expressed an urgent need to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and for the reconstruction of the region.
Regarding Yemen, the ministers condemned in the strongest terms the escalation by Houthi militias that deepens humanitarian suffering, their attacks targeting Saudi Arabia—particularly those aimed at civilians and civilian infrastructure—and the attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The declaration conveyed a message of full solidarity with the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia. The ministers called on the Iran-backed Houthis to immediately cease their military actions, threats, and attacks, and to return to the political process in good faith.
The joint text noted that the military tension between the US, Israel, and Iran, and around the Strait of Hormuz, should be addressed solely through dialogue and diplomacy. It was emphasized that there is an urgent need to prevent the targeting of ships, civilians, and civilian infrastructure.
While expressing their support for the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the ministers welcomed diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation of tension. The declaration also reaffirmed a commitment to a lasting solution through negotiation.
Pointing out that freedom of navigation and maritime security are of vital importance, the declaration stated that disruptions in maritime routes could negatively affect global supply chains and the flow of energy, fertilizer, and food. The ministers called for the rapid resumption of safe and unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The joint declaration noted that the foreign ministers of the four countries agreed to continue close consultation and cooperation on these issues.
News Source: 12punto
