Saudi Foreign Minister: Reform the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to enhance its effectiveness and strengthen its capacity to implement its resolutions
Saudi Foreign Minister, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized the importance of strengthening Islamic cooperation and solidarity, and reforming the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to enhance its capacity to implement its decisions and improve the efficiency of its institutions in confronting the challenges facing the Islamic world.
This came in a speech delivered by Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday during his participation in the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC member states, held at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah.
The Saudi minister began his address by congratulating the OIC’s new Secretary-General, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, on his election, wishing him success and effectiveness in his duties. He also expressed the Kingdom’s gratitude to the former Secretary-General, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, for the efforts he made during his tenure.
He stressed that Islamic cooperation and solidarity have become an urgent necessity in light of recurring crises and the economic, social, and humanitarian challenges facing Islamic countries. He pointed out that the Islamic world possesses significant demographic, political, economic, and civilizational weight, qualifying it to be an active player in shaping international balances.
He clarified that the coming phase requires serious reform of the organization to enhance its ability to implement its decisions, improve the efficiency of its institutions, and provide joint Islamic action with more effective tools.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue and its support for the Palestinian people’s right to establish their independent state based on the two-state solution, which would achieve just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region. He strongly condemned the Israeli occupation authorities’ announcement of a new tender for building settlement units within the “E1” project, warning of the dangers of the project, which would isolate East Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings and threaten the viability of an independent Palestinian state.
He also reiterated the Kingdom’s condemnation of the repeated incursions by Israeli officials and settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces.
Concluding his speech, the Saudi Foreign Minister affirmed that the strength of the OIC derives from the solidarity of its member states, the unity of their positions, and their ability to translate shared principles and interests into effective collective action. He emphasized that the Kingdom would continue to support every effort aimed at enhancing the organization’s role and status, serving the causes of the Islamic world, and realizing the aspirations of its peoples for security, stability, prosperity, and peace.
