Palestinian Issue the Central Cause of Islamic Countries

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation's 13th summit stressed Friday that the Palestinian issue remains the central cause for Islamic countries.

The summit released Friday its final communique and said that the organization stressed on its backing to the right of Palestinian people in establishing a state based on the borders of 1967 with East of Al Quds as its capital.

More than 50 Islamic countries took part in this year's summit. They called for holding an international peace conference to provide international protection to the rights of Palestinians and end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.

The summit also called on ending sectarian agendas, as it has detrimental effects of the security and stability of member countries as well as internationally. They stressed on the importance of promoting dialogue between neighboring countries and respecting the sovereignty of each country.

Additionally, the concluding communique condemned Iran's interference in the affairs of OIC member countries. The communique also condemned the acts of aggression two Saudi missions were subjected to in Iran.

The communique read as follows: - The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held their Summit (13th Islamic Summit titled ‘Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace’) in Istanbul, Republic of Turkey. The Summit Conferencewas chaired by President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Conference expressed its appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt for its competent Chairmanship of the 12th Islamic Summit and wise leadership for the OIC.

- The Conference emphasized the centrality of the cause of Palestine and Al Quds Sharif for the Muslim Ummah. It reaffirmed its principled support for the right of the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable national rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the territory occupied since June 1967, with Al Quds Sharif as its capital. It also reaffirmed the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in accordance with International Law and Resolution 194 (III) adopted by the UN General Assembly on11/12/ 1948. 
- The Conference reaffirmed the need for the early convening of an International Peace Conference to set mechanisms to provide international protection for the Palestinian people and to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 including East Jerusalem, in implementation of the relevant UN Resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. Therefore, the Conference called for continued action to seek the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation within a timetable for its implementation, and reaffirmed the full support for the efforts of the State of Palestine to accede to international treaties and organizations with a view to consolidating the legal personality of the State of Palestine at the international level. 
- The Conference commended the efforts deployed by His Majesty King Mohamed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al-Quds Ash-Shareef in the face of the measures being taken by the Israeli occupation authorities aimed and judaizing the holy city. It also lauded the role of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency of the Al-Quds Committee through the execution of development projects and activities for the inhabitants of the holy city and support for their steadfastness. It called on Member States to increase support for the Agency to enable it continue its work. 
- The Conference also underlined the need for the Ministerial Contact Group on Al Quds Al Sharif, under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Morocco whose monarch chairs the Al- Quds Committee to continue its efforts and actions to contact influential international parties and to deliver the OIC message and demands regarding the city of al-Quds al-Sharif. It, therefore, reiterated the adoption of the Strategic Plan on the Development of al-Quds al-Sharif, and called on all Member States to provide financial resources necessary for its implementation. 
- The Conference also stressed its support for the State of Qatar in countering the political and media campaigns aiming it is facing with regard to workers' rights and took note of the efforts of the State of Qatar on the improvement of workers conditions and the paramount importance it attaches to them, ensuring their rights in full, consistent with its national laws. 

- The Conference commended the actions by Member States leading to the progressive increase in the Authorized Capital of IDB which currently stands at 100 billion Islamic Dinars, the full payment of its Subscribe Capital of 50 billion Islamic Dinars, and the innovative resource mobilization mechanism introduced by the IDB Group. 

- The Conference expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Special Programme for Development of Africa (SPDA), which has effectively contributed to social and physical infrastructure development in 22 countries, while supporting ongoing initiative to elaborate a successor programmewith emphasis on cross-border and regional projects. Similarly, the Conference welcomed the implementation of OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia (OIC-PACCA), which has demonstrated its potentials in fostering active cooperation with OIC Member States in Central Asia. 

- The OIC summit also emphasized the significance of Small and Medium Enterprises promotion policies in attaining sustainable economic growth as well as fighting unemployment and poverty. 

Source ; QNA