Jeddah, Rabi'I 9, 1437, Dec 20, 2015, SPA -- Both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov paid tribute to the active participation of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the meetings of the International Group for the Support of Syria, which has taken place in New York the day before yesterday, it was reported here today. Iyad bin Amin Madani, the Secretary General of OIC, took part in the meeting together with 16 foreign ministers from the member states of OIC, the United Nations, European Union and Arab League. In a statement, Lavrov considered the OIC a key partner of the group as it enjoys a legal and legitimate mandate from all over the Islamic world and accommodates main regional parties that could positively affect the peace process. For his part, Kerry welcomed the participation of OIC, asserting its role in contributing to find a solution to the Syrian struggle. Madani, expressed determination of his organization to work earnestly to confront the ugly ideology of terror organizations in Syria, including ISIS, noting that OIC has mobilized wide-range participation of different segments of the Syrian civil spectrum in the political process with the aim to reach a permanent peace in Syria. OIC welcomed the UN Security Council resolution No. 2254, unanimously approved at New York meeting, that draws a road map for the peace process in Syria, describing it an important step aiming to bring about security, peace and stability to Syria. --SPA 19:30 LOCAL TIME 16:30 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w