The Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states hailed the efforts made by the member states and religious leaders to prevent the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and their support in this regard for the special measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Two Holy Mosques, the decision to suspend Umrah and visits to the Prophet's Mosque and all the additional measures that should be taken in the event of a pandemic, as an absolute necessity required by Islamic principles and teachings. They also welcomed the announcement by the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen of a two-week ceasefire in Yemen starting April 9, 2020, and called on all parties to respect this initiative and engage in talks for a comprehensive and lasting peace agreed upon by all Yemenis. This came in the final communique issued by the OIC Virtual Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee at Foreign Ministers level on COVID-19 Effects which reads as follows: The Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, proceeding from the principles and objectives enshrined in the OIC Charter, guided by the noble Islamic values of unity and fraternity and affirming the necessity of promoting and consolidating the unity and solidarity among Member States in securing their common interests at the international arena. Recognizing the centrality of the OIC as a platform to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between its Member States in the political, security, economic, social, cultural, educational, environmental, humanitarian, and other vital areas. Recalling the rich historical contributions of the noble and peaceful Islam and its values to modern civilization especially in the fields of education, moderation, science, culture, and others. Gravely concerned over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has so far affected almost all countries and regions of the world and has had devastating global impacts and posed unprecedented challenges and profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of lives and the suffering faced by the peoples around the world. --More 01:00 LOCAL TIME 22:00 GMT 0029 www.spa.gov.sa/2077864
