Islamabad, Apr. 01, 2022, SPA -- Foreign Ministers Council of Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States issued here today a declaration following the conclusion of the 48th session which was held in Islamabad. The statement reiterated OIC’s adherence to the principles of Islam, including peace, tolerance, unity, solidarity, and justice to achieve development and prosperity for the Islamic nation and for all humanity. The member states stress their commitment to expanding and deepening the ties of Islamic cooperation in all fields, enhancing unity and solidarity, and exploiting all resources for the good of the peoples and societies, reiterating their support for the UN principles and objectives as per its charter, including no-use of force, equality of sovereignty, territorial safety, non-interference in internal affairs of countries and peaceful settlement of conflicts. The declaration also said that all OIC members express support for the rights of peoples suffering from colonialism, foreign suppression, and occupation and to ensure their right to enjoy self-determination. The OIC member states seek to liberate all occupied territories and reach just solutions to all conflicts according to the UN charter. The meeting also underscored the importance of finding negotiable solutions to current conflicts through mediation and reconciliation and other peaceful means. The communique welcomes Pakistan's proposal to hold an OIC ministerial conference during 2022 - 2023 to discuss and develop mechanisms and tools to prevent conflicts and create mediation, reconciliation, and peacebuilding reiterating OIC member states' commitment to the Palestine and Jerusalem causes to remain in the epicenter of the Muslim countries' concern. In this regard, they called for the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish their Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, the importance of protecting the right of return for the Palestinian refugees according to UN resolution No. 194, calling on the international community to call on the occupation authority of Israel to refrain from all measures, practices, and decisions aiming at changing the nature and legal situation of Jerusalem. In this regard, OIC member states express their determination to hold the Occupation authority accountable and called on Israel to end the occupation and abolish the apartheid system, citing the possibility to seek justice before the international justice tribunal. The statement reiterates firm support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, rejection of the unilateral measures taken by the Indian occupation authorities aiming to change the demographic status of the enclave of Kashmir, in violation of the UN charter. The meeting acknowledges the pivotal role of Pakistan as a pillar of stability in the south Asian region, praising its role in enhancing regional peace as per the UN charter. The statement also expresses solidarity with Mali, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Cote de Viore, The Comoros, Djibouti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the people of Jammu, and Kashmir, and Turkish Cypriots and their aspirations to live in peace, security, and prosperity. The meeting welcomes the end of armed conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling on Armenia to desist from aggressive address and violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and to establish mutual good relations with its neighbor. The statement denounces the terrorist attacks and hostilities against Saudi Arabia and the UAE and expresses solidarity with the Yemeni people, calling for an immediate cessation of attacks targeting civilians, practices of sexual violence against children, recruiting them as warfighters, planting land mines, and derailing the access of humanitarian assistance to their destinations. The communique affirms the need to accelerate the achievement of stability in the Middle East and Africa through peaceful solutions according to OIC principles and UN charter and internationally acknowledged standards. OIC expresses firm support for the Coastal countries which were affected by adverse climate conditions. The communique expresses deep concern over the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situations resulting from the emerging conflicts in Ukraine, expressing OIC’s absolute support for applying the UN charter, including non-use of force, respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful solution of conflicts, preservation of international peace and security and guarantee of equal security for all countries. After having discussed the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, OIC countries call for an immediate halt of military operations to avoid more casualties and ensure no deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The member states call on all parties to launch negotiation, expressing readiness to serve as mediators if asked. The statement confirms its long-term support for international recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The member countries express support for survivors of the genocide in Srebrenica. They confirm a strong commitment to the sovereignty of Afghanistan and its territorial integrity. The statement lauds Saudi Arabia's successful hosting of the 17th extraordinary meeting of the OIC foreign ministers council as well as Pakistan's hosting of the OIC session in Islamabad on December 19, 2021, aiming to solicit humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, citing the organization's appreciation of the KSA’s support for the special envoy of OIC to Afghanistan. The statement appreciates the role of the Islamic Development Fund in alleviating the sufferings of the needy people, citing its valuable contribution to Nigeria. --SPA 22:22 LOCAL TIME 19:22 GMT 0025 www.spa.gov.sa/w1715827