Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has welcomed the efforts led by US President Donald Trump to solidify a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and implement the peace plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council under Resolution 2803, and for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination in establishing their independent state in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, represented by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Foreign Ministry, Oman emphasised the importance of establishing a clear road map and a timeline leading to the implementation of the two-state solution. This, Oman believes, would solidify the foundations of security and stability in the region, enabling a transition to a sustainable phase of peaceful coexistence, reconstruction and prosperous economic development.
Meanwhile Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, held separate telephone calls on Thursday with Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. During the call with his Palestinian counterpart, the Minister discussed various developments and current events related to the Palestinian cause, as well as regional and international efforts aimed at stabilising the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Oman’s firm and supportive stance for the rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. Both sides emphasised the importance of the full and effective participation of the Palestinian side in the efforts exerted in this context. In his conversation with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the Minister addressed the overall developments and current events on the regional stage. The Foreign Minister underscored the significance Oman attaches to the pivotal role of the Arab League in efforts to contain tensions and promote paths toward de-escalation and political solutions. Both parties stressed the necessity of intensifying Arab-Arab consultation and coordination to contribute to safeguarding shared Arab security, the supreme interests of the region's peoples and regional stability.
Furthermore, they also discussed updates regarding the Palestinian cause and international efforts to stop the escalation and stabilise the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. — ONA

Board of Peace, 'New Gaza' plans unveiled

Davos: US President Donald Trump unveiled his new Board of Peace at Davos on Thursday, casting himself again as a global peacemaker despite widespread scepticism over a plan that aims to rewrite the world order.Trump officials also unveiled ambitious plans for a 'New Gaza' during the ceremony at the World Economic Forum, with the US leader describing the devastated Palestinian territory as 'great real estate.'Trump later met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with both leaders describing their talks as good and the US leader saying Russia's nearly four-year old war with Kyiv 'has to end'.The Board of Peace was created after Trump expressed frustration at failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize and ramped up his accusations that the United Nations had failed to resolve a host of international conflicts.'Well this is exciting,' Trump said as he was joined on stage by leaders and officials from 19 countries to sign the board's founding charter in the Swiss ski resort.'This board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created,' he said.The Board of Peace, of which Trump is the chairman, was initially designed to oversee the Gaza truce and the reconstruction of the strip after the war between Hamas and Israel.But its purpose has since morphed into resolving all sorts of international conflicts, sparking concerns that the US president wants to create a rival to the UN.Countries have been asked to pay $1 billion for permanent membership of the board.And the invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine in 2022, has sparked controversy.Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed doubts, with London saying on Thursday it would not attend the ceremony.Trump told the gathering of the global elite in the Swiss mountain resorts that the organisation would work 'in conjunction' with the United Nations.A large part of the ceremony was devoted to talking about its plans for shattered Gaza.Gaza's newly appointed administrator said in a video message that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip will reopen in both directions next week.Then Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, like the president a former property developer, showed slides of what he billed as a 'master plan' for Gaza's reconstruction.The slides included maps of new settlements in the Gaza Strip and artist renderings of gleaming seafront hotels and apartments under the caption 'New Gaza'.'It could be a hope. It could be a destination,' Kushner said.Trump told Hamas to disarm under the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire accord or it would be the 'end of them'. He added that he was ready to 'talk' with regional foe Iran.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the Gaza war, had said he would join, but was not at the ceremony.The representatives of the 19 countries on stage with Trump included two close populist allies, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Argentine President Javier Milei, and officials from a host of Middle Eastern monarchies keen to curry favour.Trump joked that they were 'in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular'.'That's the way it goes in life,' he said. — AFP