Egypt and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation reaffirm the necessity of preserving the historical and legal status of Jerusalem
Cairo, Aug 29 (KUNA) -- Egypt and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stressed on Saturday the necessity of preserving the historical and legal status quo in the city of Jerusalem and its holy sites, and rejecting any measures that could undermine their religious and historical significance or alter their character. They also called for confronting the continuous and systematic violations by the Israeli occupation targeting these sites.
In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this position was conveyed during a telephone call between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the newly appointed OIC Secretary-General, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to congratulate him on assuming his post following the adoption by OIC member states of his appointment as Secretary-General on August 27.
The statement noted that the call discussed key regional developments, foremost among them the Palestinian issue, as well as support for efforts to achieve security, stability, and development in Islamic countries and to realize the aspirations of their peoples. It also highlighted that Abdelatty emphasized the paramount importance of the OIC’s role in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and preserving the city’s identity.
According to the statement, the Egyptian Foreign Minister expressed his sincere congratulations to Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his new appointment, wishing him success and effectiveness in carrying out his duties in the coming period. He affirmed Egypt’s appreciation for Ould Cheikh Ahmed’s extensive diplomatic and multilateral experience and its confidence in his ability to contribute to strengthening the OIC’s role and serving the causes and interests of its member states.
Abdelatty also reiterated Egypt’s commitment to providing full support to the new OIC Secretary-General in reforming the organization, developing its role and operational mechanisms, and utilizing Egyptian expertise and competencies in this regard, thereby contributing to enhancing the organization’s role and joint Islamic efforts to address common challenges.
For his part, Ould Cheikh Ahmed expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s support of his candidacy for the position of Secretary-General, emphasizing his commitment to continuing coordination and consultation with Egypt and benefiting from its distinguished expertise and pivotal role in supporting the causes of the Islamic world. (End) A.S.M. / A.M.S.
