Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 22/09/2023
On Thursday 21 September 2023 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of OIC Member States held their Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) on the margins of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Chair of the 49th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
In addition to the OIC Secretary-General Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, chair of the 14th Islamic Summit His Highness Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, addressed the opening session of the meeting. The session was also addressed by Mr Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific at the United Nations, representing the UN Secretary-General.
In his address, the Secretary-General spoke about the political, security, and developmental challenges facing the OIC region, notably the recurring cases of desecration and burning of the Holy Qur’an in several European countries. These acts, the Secretary-General said, are a manifestation of religious hatred which are contrary to international law. Other subjects reviewed by the Secretary-General are the developments on the question of Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, Sahel region, Lake Chad Basin, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Muslims in Non-OIC Member States, and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. He called for intensified efforts, enhanced cooperation, and solidarity to address them.
Mr. Taha also reviewed the major activities of the OIC in the humanitarian, social, economic, and legal issues slated on the OIC agenda.
