Niamey – Morocco reaffirmed, Friday in Niamey, its unwavering position supporting the peace process as a strategic choice for the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
“Morocco reaffirms its unwavering position supporting the peace process as a strategic choice to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and so as to allow the brotherly Palestinian people to recover their legitimate rights and to establish its independent, viable and sovereign State, with Al Quds East as its capital,” said Minister Delegate in charge of Moroccans Abroad, Nezha El Ouafi, at the 47th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Morocco, whose Sovereign HM King Mohammed VI, chairs the Al-Quds Committee, considers it imperative to preserve the status quo of Al-Quds so that the holy city remains a land of encounter and dialogue, a symbol of peaceful cohabitation between the faithful of the three monotheistic religions and a center of values of mutual respect.
The Kingdom, she pointed out, also reiterates its attachment to international legality and its rejection of the policy of annexation and any unilateral measure in occupied Palestinian territories, which are contrary to international law and the UN related-resolutions.
Referring to the theme of this 47th session, namely “United against Terrorism for Peace and Development”, the Moroccan official affirmed that the Kingdom categorically rejects any attempt, whatever its origin, to associate terrorism with a religion, race, culture, community or ethnic group.
Morocco also reiterates its absolute and unreserved condemnation of all forms of terrorism and the instrumentalisation of religion for terrorist purposes, she added.
The fight against terrorism, a universal and cross-border phenomenon without any connection to a particular religion or civilization, requires a comprehensive approach and international cooperation and solidarity at all levels, in a way that provides for effective responses to these threats, El Ouafi said.
Morocco also denounces the provocations that threaten the sacredness of the Muslim religion, she underlined.
El Ouafi shed light on the impact triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and the changes that it has induced on the health, economic and social system globally and, naturally, within the OIC member states.
According to the Minister Delegate, the containment, the cancellation of gatherings and various activities, the suspension of international flights and the closure of schools and universities have significantly impacted the OIC economies where growth rates have declined.
In the Arab world, the number of the poor increased by 8.3 million during the pandemic period to reach 101 million people, she added.
This situation “leads us to reflect on the adoption of a multidimensional solidarity approach to curb this pandemic and mitigate its economic impact, according to a well-crafted plan prospecting for appropriate solutions and taking into account the disparities in development between OIC Member States”, she said.
In this sense, it is necessary to capitalize on the human, material and energy resources available to the member states which would make it possible to overcome this crisis and promote the development expected for the peoples of the Islamic Ummah.
The Minister Delegate, in this regard, recalled that Morocco has granted urgent medical aid for 20 countries and the African Union Commission. This aid is part of the initiative launched by HM King Mohammed VI on April 13, 2020, aimed at establishing an operational framework to support the efforts of African countries in the various phases of the management of the coronavirus pandemic, El Ouafi stressed.
The 47th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) kicked off Friday in Niamey.
The two-day session is held on the theme “United against Terrorism for Peace and Development”.
In addition to the Palestinian cause, the fight against violence, extremism and terrorism and Islamophobia, the Council will discuss the situation of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states, fundraising for the Rohingya case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as well as the promotion of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions, and other emerging matters.
The OIC foreign ministers will also discuss political, humanitarian, economic, social and cultural and other issues related to science and technology, the media and the progress made in the implementation of the “OIC-2025: Plan of Action” document.
The Council meeting will also feature a brainstorming session on “Security and Humanitarian Challenges Confronting African Sahel States Members of the OIC”.
