PORTOROZ, Slovenia, Oct. 20 (Xinhua)-- Leaders of nine Mediterranean and Southern European Union (MED9) member states on Monday called for the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and urged renewed international efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.
The leaders gathered in Portoroz, Slovenia, for the MED9 summit, which brings together France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, and Slovenia. The meeting was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Collectively, these nine countries represent nearly 45 percent of the EU's population.
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, who hosted the summit, said at a joint press conference that the MED9 countries welcomed the recent ceasefire in Gaza and supported the peace plan proposed by the United States.
"We all support the recent ceasefire and the peace initiative, but we hope to see the plan fully implemented in all its aspects, not just at the initial stage," Golob said.
He emphasized that humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach civilians without obstruction.
"There is absolutely no justification for blocking humanitarian aid. We fully expect the reopening of the Rafah and other border crossings to ensure the flow of aid into Gaza," he said.
Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the leaders were "cautiously optimistic" about the peace process, but added that "much more remains to be done to end the humanitarian crisis."
Representing Italy, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the strong turnout at the summit demonstrated a shared European commitment to peace.
"The fact that so many European countries are here today sending a message of peace shows that achieving peace is possible," Tajani said.
The current ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, includes the exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas of the Gaza Strip. Enditem
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