OIC Secretary General Praises Saudi Leadership, Urges Support For Palestine

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, recently extended his gratitude towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its pivotal role and generous contributions during its presidency of the 14th session of the Islamic Summit Conference. The commendation was directed towards the leadership efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This acknowledgment came during Taha's address at the Senior Staff Preparatory meeting for the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC.

In his speech, Taha emphasized the necessity for enhanced cooperation and unity among member states to tackle significant challenges, particularly highlighting the Palestinian issue as a core focus of Islamic joint action. He expressed deep concern over the continuous aggression in Gaza, including premeditated acts of violence, colonial settlement activities, efforts to alter the character and status of Jerusalem, and violations against the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The transition of the summit's presidency to The Gambia was also a key point in Taha's address. He extended congratulations to The Gambia for taking over the leadership mantle and acknowledged their preparatory efforts for the summit. Taha assured OIC's full support and readiness to collaborate with The Gambia to ensure the success of the summit's objectives.

At the outset of the Preparatory Meeting for the Summit, Mamadou Tangara, The Gambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, welcomed participating delegations. He underscored the OIC's critical role in addressing various challenges faced by its member states. The meeting aimed to deliberate on documents for the upcoming 15th session and review reports from senior officials. A comprehensive report is expected to be submitted to the summit conference, culminating in a final statement that will articulate the organization's stance on agenda issues, including a resolution on Palestine and Jerusalem alongside the Banjul Declaration.

This assembly marks a significant preparatory step towards addressing pressing issues faced by OIC member states, with a strong focus on fostering unity and cooperation to navigate through these challenges effectively.

With inputs from SPA