Jeddah, Muharram 24, 1434, Dec 8, 2012, SPA -- Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bob Carr has thanked Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for the support provided by several member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to Australia, which was elected to non-permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations for the period 2013-2014. In a letter to Dr. Ihsanoglu delivered by Australia's Special Envoy to the OIC Ahmed Noor, Bob Carr said that "my government appreciates the important global role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and will remain committed to expanding cooperation with it." He asserted his support for strengthening cooperation between Australia and the Security Council and other organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, with respect to international peace and security. The Australian Foreign Minister also asserted his country's strong support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own. Australia had abstained during the voting process that took place at the General Assembly of the United Nations on November 29, 2012 which resulted in Palestine's winning of observer status at the United Nations. --SPA 13:32 LOCAL TIME 10:32 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1056562