ISLAMABAD, 26 February 2007 — Seven Muslim states said yesterday that the Iran nuclear standoff should be resolved through diplomacy. They also urged a speedy solution to the Palestinian problem for the sake of peace in the Middle East.
The statement came after a meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Jordan, and the chief of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the Pakistani capital. They met to prepare for an Islamic summit aimed at ending turmoil in the Middle East.
After the talks, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said they needed more deliberations before their summit in Saudi Arabia. No date has been set for the meeting.
The idea for a summit of Islamic countries has been championed by Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf who has long said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was fanning terrorism.
Musharraf, whose government does not recognize Israel but has held talks with the Jewish state, has recently expressed gloom about the problems besetting the Middle East. He has urged a new initiative in talks during visits to several Muslim countries over the past few weeks, including Syria and Iran, although they were not represented at Sunday’s talks.
Referring to clashes between Palestinian factions, Kasuri said it was heart-rending to see Palestinians killing Palestinians while sectarian violence in Iraq was “horrendous.”
“We have seen deterioration and that has alarmed us,” he said.
The seven ministers said the Palestinian question should be resolved on the basis of UN resolutions and initiatives that recognized the need for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“The foreign ministers reiterated the view that the Palestinian question is the central and core problem in the Middle East and it must be resolved without delay,” a joint statement said.
“The ministers expressed concern over continuing occupation and illegal actions of Israel including the latest violation against Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
“The ministers viewed with deep concern the dangerous escalation of tension, especially over the Iranian nuclear issue,” said the statement, read at a news conference by Kasuri.
“It is vital that all issues must be resolved through diplomacy and there must be no resort to use of force,” it added. “There is need for de-escalation instead of aggravation and confrontation in the Gulf region. All countries must work toward that objective.” They also called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Syrian and Lebanese territory, and for respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence.
The ministers expressed strong commitment to fight “all forms of terrorism and extremism.” Kasuri referred to the seven countries at the talks as “like-minded” but said it had yet to be decided if others, such as Iran and Syria, would attend the summit.
Asked when the summit would be held, he said: “There’s a general realization that it has to be at an early date.
“But... we need to come forward with something new so that it can affect the situation on the ground. Deliberation for one day is not enough.”
Some analysts have said Musharraf’s move to open communication channels with Israel — Pakistan held its first public talks with Israel in 2005 despite opposition from hard-line politicians at home — bolstered his international standing.
— Additional input from agencies
