OIC Press Release

On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people which coincides with the 29^th of November of each year, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz addressed a message to Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, Mr. Colin Powel, US Secretary of State, Mr. Igor Ivanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Jean Cavin, Chairman of the UN General Assembly Fifty-seventh Session, Mr. Wang Ying Van, current Chairman of the Security Council, and Mr. Khafir Solara, the Foreign Affairs High Commissioner for the European Union.

Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz called the attention of the aforesaid personalities, and the international community to the grave situation faced by the Palestinian people under the oppressive weight of the Israeli occupation characterized by the demolition of homes, ravaging of farmlands, and constraints imposed on people's free movement and exercise of their religious rites, compounded with the assassination of leaders of the civil society and destruction of infrastructure. His Excellency reiterated that these Israeli illegal practices constitute a grave violation of international law, ethical norms and international covenants and agreements relevant to the treatment of civilians in times of war, foremost of which the Fourth Geneva Accord.

His Excellency paid tribute to the regional and international efforts aimed at reaching a lasting, fair and comprehensive solution to the issue of peace in the Middle East, and urged international organizations and influential states to step up their efforts in order to put an end to the current tragic situation endured in the Palestinian territories, to end the Israeli occupation, ensure international protection for the Palestinian people, implement the Quartet Committee plan, and implement the resolutions of international legitimacy which provide for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and to the establishment of their own independent state on their homeland, with Al-Quds/Jerusalam as its capital.

The Secretary General reiterated in his letters, by way of conclusion, that the Organization of the Islamic Conference will continued its endeavours and supportive action in favour of the efforts aimed at ushering security and stability to the Middle East and establishing a just and comprehensive peace there.