Istanbul: The 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit ended yesterday with the adoption of a joint resolution on Palestine OIC’s 2016-2025 action plan and an Istanbul Declaration.

The summit hoped to strengthen unity and solidarity between Muslim countries in the fight against terrorism. Leaders also discussed the situation in Syria Yemen Iraq and Azerbaijan among others. The summit chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the centrality of the cause of Palestine and Al Quds for the Muslims.

It reaffirmed its principled support for the right of the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable national rights including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the territory occupied since June 1967 with Al Quds as its capital.

It also reiterated the right of Palestinian refugees to return home in accordance with international laws and UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (III) adopted on December 11 1948.

The summit stressed the need for an early international peace conference to set mechanisms to provide global protection for the Palestinian people and end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967 including East Jerusalem in implementation of UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. It sought the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution to end Israeli occupation within a timetable and reaffirmed support for efforts of the State of Palestine to accede to global treaties and organisations. It called for a plan to develop Al Quds and urged OIC member states to provide financial resources.

The summit renewed support to Lebanon to complete the liberation of its territories from Israeli occupation through legitimate means and stressed the need for Israel to withdraw from Shebaa Farms Kfarchouba Hills and the Lebanese part of Al Ghajar. It sought full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2016) and condemned continuing Israeli violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

The summit demanded full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan to the June 4 1967 borders in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) the principle of land for peace the terms of reference of the Madrid Peace Conference and the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Arab Summit in Beirut on March 28 2002.

It reiterated its principled position on condemnation of the aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan and stressed that acquisition of territory by use of force is inadmissible under the UN Charter and international law.

It called for strict implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 822 (1993) 853 (1993) 874 (1993) and 884 (1993) and immediate complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

It stressed the need for cooperation between Islamic states and Iran based on the principle of good neighbourliness non-interference in their domestic affairs respect for their independence and territorial sovereignty resolving differences through peaceful means in accordance with OIC and UN charters and the international law and refraining from the use or threat of force.

The summit condemned aggressions against Saudi missions in Tehran and Mashhad in Iran and rejected Iran’s inflammatory statements on the execution of judicial decisions against the perpetrators of terrorist crimes in Saudi Arabia considering the statements a blatant interference in the kingdom’s internal affairs and a contravention of UN and OIC charters and international coventions.

It also deplored Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of states in the region and OIC member states including Bahrain Yemen Syria and Somalia and Tehran’s continued support to terrorism.

The summit stressed the need to preserve Syria’s unity independence sovereignty and territorial integrity and reaffirmed support for a political settlement to the conflict based on the Geneva Communique.

It supported the political process under the UN auspices to implement a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition that would allow building a new Syrian state based on a pluralist non-sectarian democratic and civilian system where the principles of equality before the law rule of law and respect for human rights prevail.

The conference praised Egypt Jordan Lebanon Iraq and Turkey for hosting Syrian refugees and other friendly states for supporting them.

It welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2259 on Libya outlining the transitional task of Libyan authorities; and the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Skhirat Morocco to form a Government of National Accord comprising the Presidency Council and Cabinet supported by other institutions of state and the formation of the council and government.

It reaffirmed its support for the Afghan National Unity Government established following presidential polls in 2014 and Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation efforts towards lasting peace and stability in the country and the region.

It reaffirmed its principled support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their legitimate right to self-determination and aspirations in accordance with relevant UN resolutions. It stressed that Jammu and Kashmir is the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for bringing peace to South Asia.

The conference reaffirmed its solidarity with the government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and OIC’s support to and cooperation with Kosovo and its people. It expressed concern over attacks on mosques and other properties belonging to Muslims and said the recent migrants’ flow from the Middle East to Europe had exacerbated xenophobic and Islamophobic tendencies in European countries. The summit stressed the importance of not using Islamophobic and xenophobic tendencies in society as a tool for popular policies and welcomed the establishment of a Contact Group for Muslims in Europe.

For food sufficiency and security in the Muslim world the summit supported the need for possible joint venture agro projects under commercial and government arrangements within OIC mechanism for the production of cereal grains and the development of food reserves and banks for the vulnerable segments of the population in the Muslim world. Distribution arrangements could also serve as humanitarian assistance to famine-stricken communities displaced people and refugees and OIC member states suffering serious and chronic food deficit.

QNA/Agencies