The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (www.OIC-oci.org), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, addressed the opening session of the 49^th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which kicked off on Thursday, 16 March 2023, in Nouakchott, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, on the theme of “Moderation: Key to Security and Stability. In his speech, he expressed his sincere congratulations to Mauritania for hosting and chairing this session, wishing it success.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for its chairmanship of the previous session. He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its capacity as the host country of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and President of the 14th session of the Islamic Summit, for its generous support to the Organization under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah preserve them. In the same connection, he welcomed the agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies, as this step will contribute to strengthening the pillars of peace, security and stability in the region and gives new impetus for cooperation between the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha renewed his sincere condolences and solidarity with Turkey and Syria following the earthquake that struck several areas in them last month, appealing once again to provide them with more humanitarian aid.

At the outset of his speech, Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, stated that the serious challenges facing the Palestinian cause require unifying positions and doubling efforts, in order to engage the responsibility of the international community towards putting an end to Israeli crimes and violations, implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy, providing international protection for the Palestinian people, holding Israeli officials accountable for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people, through the available international justice mechanisms, as well as supporting efforts to re-launch a multilateral political process to achieve the vision of a two-state solution, based on relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

The Secretary-General added that the Organization is following closely the developments unfolding on the international arena, as well as the implementation of the ministerial resolutions, and the outcomes of the Executive Committee meeting, held last January. He also underlined the efforts of his Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, who visited Afghanistan and met in Kabul and Kandahar with leaders of the de facto authorities, to whom he conveyed the message of the Organization and its Member States about the commitment of the Member States to support Afghanistan on the humanitarian level, the importance of reviewing the recent decisions taken by the Afghan de facto authorities regarding girls’ education and women’s work, and the need to make more efforts to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In this regard, he stressed the Organization’s full commitment to supporting the right of women in Afghanistan to education and work, in line with the principles of the true Islamic religion. He also underlined that the humanitarian aid will continue through the Organization's office in Kabul, in coordination with King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action.

The Secretary-General also highlighted in his address that the Organization is committed to defending the Jammu and Kashmir cause. The OIC General Secretariat as well as its Special Envoy to Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Youssef Al-Dobaey, continue the implementation of the Action Plan adopted by the Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir during its meeting in Islam Abad, on the sidelines of the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. In addition, Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha reviewed the efforts by the Organization regarding the Muslim Rohingya Community in Myanmar, as well as the questions of Nagorno-Karabakh, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Libya, the Sahel countries, Lake Chad, Central African Republic, as well as other issues, such as countering corruption, investing in new media, promoting intra-OIC Member States trade, fostering science and technology, empowering women, building youth capacities, promoting sports, and furthering the implementation of the OIC 2025 Programme of Action.

Also addressing the session was the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani. In his speech, H.E the President welcomed the guests of Mauritania and underlined the importance of a safe Islamic world, and a peaceful resolution of crises, highlighting that his country will spare no effort in supporting and promoting joint Islamic action.

Also speaking at the opening session were H.E. Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the Islamic Summit Conference, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, as well as H.E. Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chairman of the previous session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The present session, in which more than 40 Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States are participating, will discuss a number of political, cultural, social, scientific and humanitarian issues that are of concern to the OIC and its Member States, namely the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan, as well Mali and the Sahel countries. The present session will also look into the situation of Muslim groups and communities in Myanmar and Southern Philippines, as well the efforts to counter violent extremism, terrorism and Islamophobia. A meeting will also be held, within the framework of the present session, to brainstorm ideas about the theme of the session, i.e. Moderation: Key to Security and Stability. Meetings of the OIC Contact Groups on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against Rohingya will also be held.