OIC Ministerial Delegation to Oslo Warns of Anything Injurious to al-Aqsa
and Calls for International Terms of Reference for Negotiations
Date: 06/02/2015
In an unprecedented collective move, a delegation of foreign ministers from OIC Member States began a visit to Norway, Thursday, 5 February 2015, aiming to mobilise international support for the Palestinian cause, as part of a programme featuring visits to influential world capitals and delivery of a joint message on behalf of OIC Member States on the need for a move by the international community regarding Palestine.
The delegation, headed by the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, met with the Foreign Minister of Norway, Borge Brinde, with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Malki, Guinean Foreign Minister, Lounceny Fall, OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani and the Special Envoy of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan in attendance.
The Ministerial Delegation delivered the message of the OIC to the Norwegian government on the Israeli practices that led to the failure of the nearly quarter-a-century-old peace process, with successive Israeli governments using this period of time to change the facts on the ground, intensify Judaisation campaigns against Al-Quds, build settlements, double the number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank to 600,000, in addition to the construction of the Apartheid Wall and the attacks on Palestinians in all ways and forms.
The Delegation emphasised that the continuation of this situation as such is no longer feasible, and that any future negotiations or peace process must be based on clear political terms of reference, a timeframe and international guarantees.
The Contact Group also expressed its appreciation of the positions of Norway and its close ties with the OIC Member States, hoping that Norway would use its role in supporting the Palestinians to end the occupation and achieve independence on their land occupied since 1967.
The Delegation focused on the issue of Judaisation of Al-Quds and desecration of Islamic and Christian holy sites, explained that Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the most venerated places of worship by Muslims, and warned that any injurious act against it serves as an affront to the feelings of the Muslim Ummah as a whole, and that Israel's continuation of this approach would take the region into a religious conflict with dire consequences.
The Foreign Minister of Norway expressed his understanding of the messages of the delegation, and appreciation for their content, and pledged that his country will continue its historical role in building peace and stability in the region. Brinde also reiterated Norway’s support to the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative and stressed that settlements are illegal and undermine peace.
In turn, Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that the patience of the Palestinian people with the Israeli practices has been exhausted and that condemnation statements by the international community are no longer sufficient. He added that this visit and the upcoming visits to other capitals serve as sounding-the-alarm and a call for action before it is too late. He called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to stop these practices, and end the occupation.
It is worth mentioning that the delegation is part of a ministerial contact group mandated by the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers to implement an urgent action plan to support the Palestinian cause and protect al-Quds al-Sharif.
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/OIC_alAqsa0215f.pdf
Document Type: Arabic text, French text, Press Release
Document Sources: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Country: Norway
Subject: Holy places, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Jerusalem, Peace proposals and efforts
Publication Date: 06/02/2015