Arab Peace Initiative Remains a Realistic Opportunity towards Peace in the Middle East

15/01/2017 - OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen has stressed that the participation of a large number of the OIC Member States at the International Conference to support the peace process in the Middle East held at Paris, capital of the French Republic on 15 January 2017, expresses their firm commitment to support the Palestinian people's rights.

In a speech he delivered at the conference on OIC's position regarding the Middle East peace process, Al-Othaimeen noted that the large participation of OIC member states affirms that the Arab Peace Initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2002 and then adopted by the OIC, is still a historic, serious and realistic opportunity and a courageous step towards peace, stability and security in the region.

The OIC Secretary General re-iterated the organisation’s position welcoming the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334, which condemns the Israeli settlements and demands their halt in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including Al-Quds.

He expressed hope that the resolution would be a step towards the UNSC carrying its responsibilities and embodying a political reference that would enhance the chances of success of the Paris Conference to achieve its desired objectives, notably the launch of a timed multilateral political process to end the Israeli occupation and achieve peace based on the two-state vision.

Al-Othaimeen re-affirmed that East Al-Quds is an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 1967, the capital of the State of Palestine, and referred to the religious and spiritual centrality of the City of Al-Quds and the eternal ties of Muslims all over the world to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

This he said asserts the need to respect and ensure the unquestionable right of Muslims to practice their religious rights there.

It is worth mentioning that Ambassador Samir Bakr, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Palestine Affairs, attended the preparatory senior officials meeting to the International conference on the Middle East peace process yesterday 14 January 2017.

A joint declaration was agreed on at the preparatory meeting in Paris attended by 69 delegates, which reaffirmed the International community's commitment to the two state solution.

The joint declaration will be formally adopted at the International conference on the Middle East Peace process, today 15 January 2017.

Source: http://www.oic-oci.org/topic/?t_id=13039&t_ref=5722&lan=en