PRESS RELEASE
ON THE OPENING OF RAFAH BORDER CROSSING BETWEEN GAZA STRIP AND THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, expressed his satisfaction at the entry into effect of the Agreement on Movement and Access which enabled the opening of Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and the Arab Republic of Egypt. He qualified this development as a Palestinian national achievement resulting from the Palestinian people’s steadfastness and just struggle. Considering this border crossing as Palestine’s gate to freedom, the Secretary-General expresses his hope that the opening of Rafah crossing will be a preliminary step toward the complete liberation of all occupied Palestinian territories and the establishment of the independent and fully sovereign Palestinian State with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
On this occasion, the Secretary-General congratulated the Palestinian people and their leadership for this significant achievement which has allowed the Palestinian people for the first time to control one of their important border crossings. The Secretary-General also called upon the international community and the International Quartet to intensify their endeavors in order to compel Israel to implement previous agreements on the opening of the Gaza International Airport and the building of a seaport as two vital gates for the Palestinian people and significant symbols of their national freedom and sovereignty.
The Secretary-General avails himself of this opportunity to reaffirm the OIC’s unwavering position regarding assisting the Palestinian people in their just struggle to regain their inalienable national rights and to establish the independent Palestinian State with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. The Secretary-General also renews his appeal to the Member States to continue to assist the Palestinian people in order to ease their suffering and enable them to build their national institutions and help them obtain their freedom and independence.
Jeddah, 26 November 2005
Document Sources: Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Subject: Access and movement, Gaza Strip, Security issues
Publication Date: 26/11/2005