Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed satisfaction on the outcomes and decisions of the 41st session of the Foreign Ministers Council of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in which these decisions sought to upgrade with the size of challenges and risks facing the Arab and Islamic worlds. This came in a joint press conference held today in Jeddah with OIC Secretary General Iyad bin Ameen Madani, "the Arab and Islamic worlds are witnessed rapid changes. We have to deal with them from a comprehensive and strategic perspective including political, economic and social development aspects and within the framework of diligent pursuit to achieve security and stability and push forward the economic and social development in order to achieve the legitimate aspirations and hopes of our peoples," Al-Faisal said. "Regarding the latest developments at the Syrian arena suffering a severe deterioration as a result of the failure of the international community to put an end of this crisis and its extension affecting Iraq and deepening the internal unrest case prevailing originally which portends more dangers as a result of the policies of sectarianism, it is natural that the conference is to highlight this issue within framework of pursuit of warding off sedition and sectarianism and achieving national cohesion among the people of a state with the various components and on the principle of equality of rights and duties among themselves. The meeting stresses stand as one queue in the fight against sectarian and exclusionary policies that led to the emergence of sedition on the political scene threatening security, stability, sovereignty and even identity of some countries," Prince Saud Al-Faisal said. "The Palestinian Cause remains the core issue of the Islamic nation. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas provided a full explanation of the cause. In the light of Israel's refusal to all peace efforts, a continuation of its intransigent approach, swallowing more Palestinian territories to build settlements, going forward with the procedures of Judaization and violation of Holy Al-Quds and trying to change the geographic and demographic situation, the Declaration of the Conference confirmed the main bases of the Islamic world which should be the basis of any international effort to resolve the Palestinian cause in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and its principles and the Arab peace initiative to achieve the objectives of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital," Prince Saud added. Prince Saud Al-Faisal pointed out that the conference reaffirmed condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and whatever its source in addition to all forms of extremism, stressing importance of addressing the devil thought leading to extremism which is contrary to the Islamic values which called to moderation, openness, tolerance, dialogue and pluralism. In this regard, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the conference's condemnation and refusal against violence, discrimination and ethnic cleansing policies facing Muslim minorities in Myanmar, Central Africa and other Islamic countries in the world, calling upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in the protection of these minorities and address all hatred's forms against Islam at various international levels. With regard to the economic and cultural issues, Prince Saud said the conference reviewed the developmental challenges facing the countries of the Islamic world, "we have to review and evaluate existing programs and plans including re-formulation of priorities in the light of latest developments and within framework of strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the member states and efforts aiming to institutionalize this cooperation which will be highlighted in details by the OIC Secretary General," he added.
