DHAKA – Forty-fourth session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers started inDhaka today.
Speakers at the session were unanimous in highlighting the challengesfacing the Islamic world, at the forefront of which the Palestinian causeand the suffering of the Muslim Rohingya minority.
Theme of the session is : “The Islamic Values of Sustainable Peace,Solidarity and Development.”
The conference was inaugurated by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
She said OIC should firmly stand in solidarity with the Rohingya people intheir quest for security and dignity. She also called for pursuinginternational pressure on the Myanmar Authorities to honor theirobligations for solving this problem.
OIC Secretary General Dr. Youssef A. Al-Othaimeen said Muslim Ummah shouldjoin forces for a peaceful, equitable and comprehensive solution to thePalestinian issue that has been dragging for over seven decades.
Côte d’Ivoire Foreign Minister Marcel Amon-Tanoh underscored the need tomeet current challenges by adopting a strong and cohesive Islamic positionin line with Member States’ aspirations.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said Muslim World iscurrently confronted with tremendous challenges, including Islamophobia,extremism, inequality, the Israeli occupation of the Palestinianterritories, and terrorism.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir stressed that thePalestinian Cause has absolute priority and emphasized the necessity toachieve fair and comprehensive peace. He also underlined the need tosupport Muslim minorities across the world, particularly the RohingyaMinority.
Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bekir Bozdag insisted on the need to rootout extremism, put an end to the Syrian Crisis, and eradicate all terroristgroups.
Senegal Foreign Minister Sidiki Kaba highlighted the recurrent of Israeliviolations against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, a source of great concern.He called for putting an end to the political crises in Yemen, Syria, Libyaand Central Africa, and for establishing mechanisms to guarantee thenon-recurrence of these violations.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, who participated in thesession as Special Guest said she considered as ethnic cleansing againstRohingya Minority must be stopped.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua is leading Pakistan’s delegation in thesession.