Director-General's remarks at the International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East

International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East

Friday, 1 November 2024 at 10:30 a.m. 

Room XXVI, Palais des Nations 

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to open the 2024 United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East and to welcome you to International Geneva, a global center for multilateralism and diplomacy. It is fitting that this event takes place here at the Palais des Nations — a place that has long served as a beacon for peace, cooperation, and the shared pursuit of human rights and dignity.

The annual seminar was created over three decades ago to provide a platform to enhance dialogue and understanding between media practitioners and encourage their contribution in support of a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Unfortunately, today the possibility of peace in the Middle East seems as distant as ever.

We gather today amidst a period of profound complexity in the region — a time when the need for dialogue, understanding, and constructive engagement has never been greater. The recent events have underscored the vital role of open communication, both in fostering peace and in bridging divides across borders, cultures, and perspectives. In times of conflict, when tensions are high and mistrust deepens, dialogue becomes not just a tool but a lifeline for the path toward peace.

The pursuit of peace in the Middle East is a task which requires our dedicated effort. Journalists play a critical role in enabling dialogue, verifying facts, raising global awareness and accountability, and bridging deep divides of belief, history, and experiences. Their presence not only gives a voice to those directly affected but also creates a historical record, helping future generations and policymakers understand the full impact of the conflict in the Middle East. I am deeply heartbroken and outraged by the loss of so many courageous journalists who have been killed in this conflict.

This seminar reaffirms our shared responsibility to report truthfully and amplify voices advocating for peace, constructive negotiations and dialogue. 

In the lead up to the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which the Geneva diplomatic community will mark on 29 November, I would like to reiterate the UN Secretary-General’s call for de-escalation in the Middle East, with an immediate ceasefire both in Gaza and Lebanon and a two-State solution, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and international law. This remains the only path to ensuring that Palestinians and Israelis both realize their legitimate aspirations, living side-by-side in peace and security, and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. 

I wish you a successful seminar.