OIC Secretary-General Condemns Colombia's Opening of Embassy in Occupied Jerusalem

Riyadh, 14 October (KUNA) -- The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, expressed his strong condemnation today, Wednesday, of Colombia’s opening of an embassy in occupied Jerusalem. In a statement, the Secretary-General said that this step constitutes a blatant violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 478 (1980), which called on all states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the holy city. He affirmed that all legislative and administrative measures taken by the Israeli occupation aimed at altering the character and status of Jerusalem are null and void and must be revoked. He further pointed out the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s absolute rejection of any positions, decisions, or actions that could contribute to entrenching the illegal Israeli occupation and the alleged Israeli sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, or that could undermine international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. In this context, he sent a written letter to the Colombian foreign minister, urging him to reverse this unlawful decision, which would support Israeli measures aimed at altering the character, legal status, and demographic composition of Jerusalem, constitute an assault on the rights of the Palestinian people, and disregard the profound religious and historical significance of the holy city for Muslims and Christians worldwide. He warned of the long-term consequences this decision could have for Colombia’s relations with Islamic countries. (End)