Minister Shahin Meets Several Foreign Ministers on the Sidelines of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland- On the sidelines of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Varsen Shahin, held separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Venezuela, Montenegro, Cuba, Nigeria, and Belarus. The discussions focused on the brutal Israeli assaults against the Palestinian people, the urgent need for intensified international efforts to end the illegal occupation, and the importance of holding war criminals accountable.

Minister Shahin met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, Yván Gil Pinto, to discuss developments in the state of Palestine and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The Minister praised Venezuela’s steadfast position in supporting the Palestinian cause politically, legally, and internationally, acknowledging its continued efforts in international forums to uphold Palestinian rights. She emphasized the need for joint action to urge the international community to act swiftly, enforce the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and support UNRWA. Minister Shahin also stressed the importance of amplifying the voice of justice within UN institutions to halt Israeli crimes and hold the occupying power accountable, warning that ignoring these crimes could lead to their recurrence elsewhere.

Minister Shahin expressed Palestine’s eagerness to activate bilateral agreements with Venezuela and explore new avenues of cooperation. For his part, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in all forums and through all possible means. He underscored the necessity of effective international collective action to curb Israeli crimes and emphasized Venezuela’s commitment to working within international alliances to press for an end to the occupation and achieve justice. “We stand wholeheartedly with Palestine and will ensure its voice is heard in every forum,” he added, pledging continued humanitarian support.
Minister Shahin also discussed the importance of the upcoming Peace Conference in June and the High Contracting Parties Conference in March. She reiterated that the two-state solution is the only path to a just peace and urged the international community to focus on achieving justice rather than allowing massacres and inhumane assaults against Palestinians to persist.
Both parties agreed to continue bilateral coordination, particularly in the fields of health and education, and to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, emphasizing the need to expand cooperation across various sectors to support Palestinian resilience.

Montenegro
Minister Shahin also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ervin Ibrahimović, where she discussed the evolving situation in Palestine, particularly in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. She highlighted that the atrocities in Gaza are being systematically repeated in the West Bank, pointing to heavy tanks stationed at refugee camp entrances and the demolition of residential buildings as steps toward full annexation. The minister stressed that the Israeli occupation continues its brutal violations under a shield of international impunity, calling for support for the rulings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, as well as ongoing efforts at the High Contracting Parties Conference and the Peace Conference in New York.

The Montenegrin Foreign Minister reaffirmed his country’s firm stance in supporting justice and Palestinian rights, emphasizing Montenegro’s commitment to the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions. He expressed the solidarity of his people with Palestinians and their suffering, asserting that the international community’s silence in the face of these crimes is unacceptable. He also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in international forums to achieve justice and stability.

Dr. Shahin commended Montenegro’s constructive positions and its consistent voting in favor of Palestine in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council. She also briefed the Montenegrin Foreign Minister on Palestine’s efforts to obtain full UN membership, urging Montenegro to support Palestinian legal, political, and diplomatic initiatives to secure Palestinian rights and establish peace based on the two-state solution.
Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, including resuming political consultations between Palestine and Montenegro. At the end of the meeting, Minister Shahin called for an end to arms exports to Israel, emphasizing that these weapons are used to kill Palestinian civilians.

Cuba
Similarly, Minister Shahin met with Cuban Foreign Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, where she discussed political developments in Palestine and the ongoing Israeli assaults, reaffirming the importance of international efforts to hold the occupying power accountable.

The Cuban Foreign Minister expressed his country’s unwavering support for Palestine in all international forums, stressing Cuba’s commitment to Palestinian rights and the call for the release of Palestinian prisoners. He also affirmed Cuba’s continued support for Palestinian students in Cuban universities and highlighted the solidarity of the Cuban people, who have organized massive demonstrations in support of the State of Palestine.

Minister Shahin thanked Cuba for its steadfast positions and warned that the situation in Palestine is becoming increasingly dire, not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank, where settlement expansion continues with direct support from the United States. She emphasized the need to uphold international law and mechanisms, calling for adherence to the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, asserting that justice requires patience but will ultimately prevail.

The two sides agreed on the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in education and healthcare. Minister Shahin praised the role of Cuban university graduates in building Palestinian institutions and emphasized the urgent need to support the Palestinian healthcare sector following the Israeli destruction of its infrastructure. Shahin also discussed the role of the UN General Assembly in countering the U.S. obstruction of international resolutions through its veto power, calling for enhanced international participation in the High Contracting Parties Conference to ensure accountability for the Israeli occupation.

At the end of the meeting, the Cuban Minister reaffirmed his country’s full support for Palestine and invited Minister Shahin to visit Cuba to strengthen bilateral relations, emphasizing the Cuban people’s deep sense of solidarity and friendship with the State of Palestine.

Nigeria
Later, Dr. Shahin met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, who reiterated Nigeria’s firm stance in rejecting the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, even after the ceasefire. Minister Tuggar stressed that Nigeria, along with other African nations, stands with Palestine in its struggle for justice. He highlighted Nigeria’s historical fight against racism and neocolonialism as part of its national identity and reaffirmed its role in the global coalition supporting the Palestinian cause.
The Nigerian Minister noted that Nigeria is among the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states that have demanded an end to violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, emphasizing that the disproportionate use of force against Palestinians has no justification.
The Nigerian Minister announced that Africa is seeking two permanent seats on the UN Security Council, which would enable it to play a greater role in peace and security efforts. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working within the African bloc to strengthen efforts in support of the Palestinian cause. He also highlighted Nigeria’s medical aid initiatives for Palestinian victims, including surgeries in Egypt and efforts to evacuate Palestinian children for treatment in Nigeria.
Dr. Shahin commended Nigeria’s humanitarian efforts, emphasizing that rehabilitating Palestinian victims is a priority for Palestinian leadership. The Nigerian Foreign Minister noted that the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is deeply committed to the Palestinian cause, citing his attendance at the OIC Summit in Riyadh and his insistence on following through with its resolutions.
At the end of the meeting, the Nigerian Minister stressed the need to go beyond condemnations and take real action to support justice for Palestine. Ambassador Ibrahim Khreisheh thanked Nigeria for its strong and consistent support in the Human Rights Council and other international forums. Minister Shahin invited the Nigerian Minister to visit Palestine, reaffirming their commitment to working together for justice and peace.

Belarus
Minister Shahin also met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, who reaffirmed Belarus’s steadfast support for Palestine, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts in international forums to halt Israeli assaults. 

Minister Shahin praised Belarus’s supportive stance, stressing the importance of activating international pressure mechanisms to enforce international legitimacy resolutions and hold Israel accountable for its crimes. Both sides discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in health, education, and economic exchange, as well as strengthening political coordination in international forums.
The Belarusian Minister confirmed that his country would continue working alongside Palestine in international organizations to support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and expressed Belarus’s readiness to enhance bilateral relations for the benefit of both nations.