Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 21/11/2012
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Baroness Catherine Ashton attended and addressed the 39th Council of Foreign Minister of the OIC as a guest. In her statement to the 39 CFM, which is the first time an EU representative addresses a CFM, Baroness Ashton stressed on the EU’s eagerness to develop cooperation with the OIC and its member states in various fields. At the sidelines of the CFM, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu held extensive bilateral talks with Baroness Ashton. The emphasis of the talk was on the latest Israeli aggressions on Gaza. The Secretary General also discussed with Lady Ashton the issue of supporting the recognition of Palestine observer membership in the United Nations. He called for efforts to unify the different Palestinian factions, which would lead to efforts for a two-state solution based on negotiations by two equal parties that would be conducive to peace and security in the Middle East. He urged the EU to put pressure on Israel to stop the escalation. Among the other issues Myanmar and UN Resolution 16/18 on religious intolerance were highlighted during the discussion.
