UN – Two-State Solution Conference – Meeting between Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and UN Secretary-General António Guterres (July 30, 2025)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot met yesterday with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the occasion of the International Conference on the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. The Conference was held at UN headquarters in New York on July 28 and 29.

The Minister reviewed the situation in the Middle East. He reiterated France’s commitment to the two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. President Macron’s announcement that France would recognize the State of Palestine this September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly marks a new phase in this regard. The Minister emphasized that France’s recognition is part of a global political dynamic supported by the conference that should lead to recognition of the State of Palestine, normalization of relations with Israel and regional integration, the reform of Palestinian governance, disarmament, Hamas’s complete exclusion from the government and the implementation of collective security guarantees.

The Minister and the Secretary-General also discussed the situation in Lebanon in the leadup to this August’s negotiations on renewing UNIFIL’s mandate. The Minister emphasized the vital role played by the UN Mission in terms of Lebanon’s security and regional stability, and reiterated France’s involvement through the participation of its military contingent. France also worked with the United States on the implementation of the ceasefire via the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

Lastly, the Minister addressed the issue of Iran’s nuclear program and noted that a lasting resolution of this issue would require a negotiated settlement within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. France stands ready to contribute to this effort, in cooperation with its partners.