PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has declared his total support for a two-state solution to the Israel- Palestine conflict.
Buhari reportedly said this during a meeting on Sunday with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said.
“I want to assure you that we will stand side by side with you, until our brothers and sis- ters in Palestine achieve their desired objectives,” he said.
“Our support for various Security Council resolutions restoring and respecting 1967 boundaries with Jerusalem as capital of Palestine is firm and
unshaken.” Buhari’s stance on the Israeli-Palestine conflict is similar with that of most countries of the world including the Euro- pean Union, and Qatar is be- lieved to be one of the major backers of Palestine including backing Hamas, which gov- erns Gaza. However, Israel and the United States have re- peatedly blocked any United Nations resolution mandat- ing a two-state solution. The non-resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and lack of progress in resolving it is considered the greatest foreign policy failure of United States of America’s President, Barack
Obama. President Buhari also weighed-in on the situation in the Middle East and com- mended Qatar’s role in resolving the present Syrian crisis, the Palestinian cause and efforts in reconstructing Gaza.
“The conflicts in Yemen and Syria with their attendant humanitarian crisis need genuine international effort to solve. Nigeria as a peace loving country identifies with the State of Qatar in all her peace efforts in the world to end terrorist activities.
“Nigeria is a victim of terrorism. It is with heavy heart that I stand before you and say activities of Boko Haram have led to loss of many lives and displacement of innocent people in our dear nation.
“We, however, take pride to inform you that since our com ing to power, Boko Haram has been systematically decimated and are in no position to cause serious threat to our development programs.
“I wish to reiterate that Nigeria rejects violence and extremism in all their ramifications, and assure your High- ness that we are with the State of Qatar in your efforts to fight terrorism and injustice in your region and in the world at large.”
