Egypt and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation affirm the necessity of preserving the historical and legal status of Jerusalem
Egypt and the Organisation 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, rejecting any measures that could undermine its religious and historical significance or alter its character. They also emphasized the need to confront the continuous and systematic violations by the Israeli occupation targeting these sites.
In a statement, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this position was conveyed during a phone call between Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the new OIC Secretary-General, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, to congratulate him on assuming his post following the adoption by member states of his appointment as Secretary-General on August 27.
The statement highlighted that the call discussed key regional developments, foremost among them the Palestinian issue, as well as efforts to achieve security, stability, and development in Islamic countries and fulfill the aspirations of their peoples. It also noted that Abdelatty underscored 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 international 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 reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing full support to the new Secretary-General in reforming the OIC, 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.
