Deputy Minister Kim Geon Holds Video Conference with Heads of Diplomatic Missions from 7 Middle Eastern Countries... Discusses Strengthening Diplomacy Post-COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the afternoon of the 14th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a video conference chaired by Deputy Minister Kim Geon with the heads of diplomatic missions stationed in seven Middle Eastern countries to review the current status of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the Middle East region and discuss future diplomatic prospects and response strategies.

The video conference was attended by seven heads of our diplomatic missions stationed in Middle Eastern countries, including the Ambassador to Lebanon, Ambassador to Morocco, Ambassador to Jordan, Ambassador to Iraq, Ambassador to Iran, Ambassador to Israel, and Ambassador to Egypt, along with relevant officials from the headquarters.

Deputy Minister Kim evaluated the efforts made by our missions to cooperate with host countries on health measures and support the return of overseas nationals despite the difficult crisis of COVID-19 spread, and emphasized the need to respond promptly to the changed diplomatic environment of the international community due to the COVID-19 situation.

He particularly urged close attention to the possibility that the ongoing and unrelenting spread of COVID-19 in the Middle East could lead to social and economic grievances escalating into regional instability, and requested that communication with host countries be strengthened and thorough measures be taken to protect our nationals.

In response, the heads of missions exchanged opinions on "the status and response measures to COVID-19 in Middle Eastern countries," "protection measures for our nationals under the COVID-19 situation," "prospects for the Middle Eastern situation after COVID-19," and "ways to strengthen diplomacy with Middle Eastern countries after COVID-19."

The heads of missions agreed that since host countries seem to feel the need to strengthen healthcare systems such as establishing quarantine systems more than ever due to the COVID-19 situation, our quarantine achievements should be actively utilized as diplomatic assets to enhance health cooperation.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "This video conference was evaluated as a useful opportunity for interactive communication by sharing real-time information on the local situation in the Middle East and each country's response status to COVID-19, while exploring ways to strengthen diplomacy with the Middle East region."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.