Australia to strongly advocate for two-state solution on global stage: PM Albanese

CANBERRA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that his government will continue to be a "strong advocate" on the global stage for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Speaking on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Monday morning, Albanese said that Australia would continue to use its voice in international forums to strongly advocate for a two-state solution whereby Palestine and Israel can live "side-by-side in peace and security."

"We have consistently advocated both directly to the Israeli government, but also through our vote in international forums, for aid to be allowed into Gaza, consistently advocated for a ceasefire and for the hostages to be released and Hamas to be disarmed," he said.

The prime minister announced earlier in August that Australia will, in September, join Canada, France and Britain in formally recognizing Palestinian statehood at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Asked on Monday if he had raised Palestinian recognition with the governments of neighboring countries in the Pacific, including New Zealand, Albanese said that they would make their own decisions as sovereign states.

"Australia will make our decisions without concern for anything other than our national interest and for doing the right thing," he said.

Tens of thousands of Australians on Sunday took part in more than 40 pro-Palestine protests in cities and towns across the country, calling for an end to Australia's arms trade with Israel and to the famine in Gaza. ■