Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has welcomed the positive stances came in the Declaration of the European Union Council on the peace process in the Middle East issued on December 13, 2010. The OIC Secretary General commended in particular the European clear position which considers the Israeli settlements as an illegal and impediment in the path of peace, stressing that the OIC supports the European Union's call for an immediate, permanent and unconditional opening of crossings to allow the transfer of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and movement of persons to and from Gaza.