Lebanon Must Not Become Gaza Strip, Israel Must Respect Iran-US Understanding

JAKARTA - Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said on Monday that Lebanon should not become "another Gaza Strip" and urged Israel to respect the understandings reached between the United States and Iran, according to the Slovakian news agency TASR.

Speaking with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares during a press conference in Bratislava, Foreign Minister Blanar stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to conflicts in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip and tensions involving Iran.

"We do not want Lebanon to become another part of Gaza, and therefore Israel also needs to abide by the agreements reached between the United States and Iran," said Foreign Minister Blanar, launching Anadolu (30/6).

He emphasized that Bratislava and Madrid have a similar approach to international conflicts, prioritizing diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for international law.

Foreign Minister Blanar also said Slovakia and Spain had "almost the same opinion on all the conflicts that are going on," adding that they agreed on the need for an "active diplomatic role" by the European Union in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Albares reiterated Spain's position for "a just and lasting peace in Ukraine" and stressed that international law must be respected "everywhere and in every context."

On this occasion, the two ministers also discussed defense cooperation and noted the increasingly close economic relations between Slovakia and Spain, especially in the automotive, infrastructure, railway, and defense sectors.