The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages were the main topics at a briefing by the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Germany – Georg Georgiev and Dr. Johan Wadephul, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria on October 13. Both ministers emphasised that much work lies ahead to stabilise the Middle East region.
"The challenge now is to ensure that this ceasefire can be lasting, rather than just another temporary freeze in this long-standing conflict, which could reignite in a few years," Dr. Johan Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, said in Sofia. He added that Palestinian leaders should ensure that Hamas has no future – neither civilian, military, nor political. Both Bulgaria and Germany remain firmly committed to a two-state solution.
Georg Georgiev, Bulgarian Foreign Minister, said: "I want to start with the good news of the day – the ceasefire achieved between Israel and Hamas. A ceasefire we have long hoped for, one that deserves credit to President Trump and his administration, and which is extremely valuable and important for us as nations. With the release of hostages by Hamas terrorists, Bulgarian and German citizens, as well as other innocent people, were freed. From now on, the recovery process begins – the reconstruction of Gaza, the alleviation of suffering and the humanitarian crisis, and giving a new direction to the Middle East."
“But this is only the beginning of the next chapter. We must now address the new challenges ahead, because this agreement alone does not yet bring peace to the region. Many more steps are required. At this very moment, numerous heads of state and government are meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh to work towards solutions concerning the nine countries whose interests we are advocating,” said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
“We expect Hamas to have no political or any other role or influence in the region or in Palestine. What we need is a responsible Palestinian administration, with Palestinian police forces capable of ensuring security and peace. Together with our international partners, we share the view that a United Nations mandate for peacekeeping in Gaza is essential. A peacekeeping corps must be deployed.
“The danger in Gaza does not come only from Hamas. We are working on a resolution to be adopted by the permanent members of the UN Security Council in the near future. In this way, we expect stabilization in the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip, under Palestinian self-administration. That could lay the foundation for renewed negotiations with Israel, aimed at creating an independent Palestinian state.
“It will be a long road, but over the past weeks I have seen that both sides are capable of taking steps toward lasting peace.”
The discussions between Georgiev and Wadephul are ongoing, covering military-industrial cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany, security in the Black Sea region, and strengthening NATO’s eastern flank against threats from Russia.
Dr. Johan Wadephul emphasised that once US President Donald Trump achieves his objectives in the Middle East, pressure should be increased on Vladimir Putin to find a resolution to the military crisis and the war in Ukraine.
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