Advisor’s Participation in OIC Ministerial Meeting

Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Mr. Sartaj Aziz returned today after representing Pakistan at the Expanded Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers. The Extraordinary Meeting was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 12 August 2014. The Adviser’s visit underlined solidarity and support of Pakistan to the Palestinian people.

In his statement at the Extraordinary Meeting, Adviser strongly condemned the atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza. The Advisor forcefully defended the Palestinian People’s right to self-determination and establishment of viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian State, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He called upon the international community to consolidate an enduring ceasefire and revive the peace process as well as make renewed efforts for securing a lasting peace. He recommended that the OIC must work towards an action plan in the period leading up to the next session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) for endorsement by the Foreign Ministers of the OIC member states.

His Royal Highness, Prince Saud Al Faisal, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who chaired the Extraordinary Meeting, appreciated Pakistan’s historic support to the Palestinian cause and especially thanked Mr. Sartaj Aziz for attending the meeting.

The Communiqué issued by the Expanded Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers demanded Israel to stop its military aggression and stressed the need for the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security. It demanded an expeditious implementation of resolution (HRC Resolution S-21/1) adopted by the Special Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Pakistan, as the Coordinator for the OIC Group in Geneva, played a key role in the adoption of the Resolution.

The meeting also decided to set an international legal team to initiate proceedings at the International Criminal Court, against the aggression in Gaza.

The meeting also called on all OIC members to promote immediate humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza and also participate actively in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza.

Islamabad
13 August 2014

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