JEDDAH: The Secretary-General of the OIC has said that the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif is witnessing major developments that pose a serious challenge to the international community in general, and to the OIC in particular.
Addressing the opening of the 50th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cameroon on Thursday, Hissein Brahim Taha, said that the Israeli occupation forces continue their unprecedented military aggression on the Gaza Strip and all parts of the Palestinian territory, including Al-Quds, which has killed thousands of people.
He stressed that the OIC continues its efforts to face the repercussions of the brutal Israeli aggression against the people of Palestine, strengthen their steadfastness in their land, and defend their legitimate rights.
The Secretary-General referred to the OIC’s efforts in the humanitarian field within the framework of constructive dialogue on various issues in Afghanistan, especially the continued ban on girls’ education, women’s work, and their participation in public life. He said OIC’s Special Envoy, Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit, and delegations of scholars and OIC institutions have made frequent visits to Afghanistan, aiming to engage in dialogue with the de facto government to end this ban.
Hissein Brahim Taha urged member states to support Humanitarian Fund for Afghanistan at the Islamic Development Bank to enable it to fulfill its commitments.
The Secretary-General also reviewed the developments related to the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the efforts exerted by the OIC and his Special Envoy, Yousef Aldoubeay, to implement the resolutions of the Islamic Summit and the resolutions of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
He also reiterated the principled stance of the OIC in support of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan and welcomed the end of the armed conflict between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the restoration of its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its national borders.
He said the OIC is paying special attention to the multifaceted challenges facing the Sahel and Lake Chad region and called for more solidarity with its peoples.
The Secretary-General also reaffirmed the continuation of OIC efforts to defend the interests of Muslim communities in non-member states, as well as those in the field of combating terrorism, addressing manifestations of Islamophobia and religious hatred, and promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue in cooperation with international partners, noting that the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, Ambassador Mehmet Paçacı, will soon assume his duties.
The Secretary-General noted that the opening of the OIC Labour Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan will contribute to addressing the development challenges in this sector. He also welcomed the inaugural session of the General Assembly of the Islamic Halal Accreditation Forum held in Makkah in November 2023.
Regarding climate change and water, Hissein Brahim Taha said that the Organization is seeking to identify opportunities for cooperation among Member States in these areas. He also congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29) in November 2024.
The Secretary-General expressed gratitude and congratulated the Republic of Cameroon for hosting and chairing the 50th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers while thanking the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for its efforts during its chairmanship of the 49th session.
He also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continuous support to the Organization, under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Addressing the opening session, in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, the Prime Minister of the country, Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, in his speech touched support for the OIC and the importance of solidarity with its member states in the fight against poverty, climate change and terrorism, referring to the dangerous escalation in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip.
Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cameroon, delivered his country’s speech after assuming the chairmanship of the session, in which he welcomed the guests of the 50th session, the event which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Cameroon’s accession to the OIC in 1974. Additionally, he expressed his thanks to the 49th session Chairman, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, for chairing the previous session perfectly.
The Minister stressed the importance of the theme of the 50th session: ‘Developing Intra-OIC Transportation and Communication Infrastructure: Key Instrument for Combating Poverty and Insecurity’. He emphasized the importance of development, peace, and security for member states, pointing to the escalation and violence in Palestine and emphasizing the principle of a two-state solution.
