“The member states should voice a uniform opinion on regional and international matters to demonstrate the solidarity of Arab nations,” Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh said during an extraordinary session of the parliamentary union of Islamic countries that concluded in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
“Our nations should strive to wipe out injustice, oppression and develop a mechanism to get rid of destitution and poverty and spread the message of tolerance advocated by the religion of Islam.
“We must preen ourselves to face the challenges of the Islamic world and march forward to achieve the Arab peace initiative to safeguard our interests, pristine culture and heritage.”
The meeting was presided over by the speaker of the UAE's Federal National Council (FNC) Abdul Aziz Al-Ghurair.
The Shoura chairman also thanked all the heads of the Islamic countries who offered prayers and wished Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to get well soon.
“We deem it an honor to have received this goodwill from heads of states and speakers of parliaments for our great leader, whose wise leadership had gained global fame.”
The chairman also said the Kingdom is deeply concerned regarding the issue of Jerusalem, claiming Israelis were trying to Judaize the holy city.
“The Kingdom has defended Jerusalem on all occasions and carried the concerns of its people to all international forums. We stand for the political, legitimate and religious rights of the Palestinian people.”
Al-Asheikh expressed concern on Israeli refusal to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the survival of its nuclear programs outside international control, which posed a serious threat to the security and stability of the region.
“Israel must abandon its obfuscations on nuclear weapons to move toward a true nuclear settlement in the Middle East,” Al-Asheikh said.
He added that use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in accordance with the guidelines and supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency should be allowed in Iran and other countries of the region.
He also suggested that the issue of the three islands in the Arabian Gulf, including greater Tunb, lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, be settled peacefully according to international regulations, and if necessary, by the International Court of Justice.
A 24-article declaration at the end of the conference contained recommendations covering political, economic, social, cultural and legal issues, as well as human rights, the environment, and women’s rights.
The declaration also indicates positions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference's member states on regional and international issues, including Palestine, Syria's Golan Heights, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Sudan, Somalia, Cyprus, Jammu and Kashmir, Azerbaijan, peaceful uses of nuclear technology, making the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction and combating terrorism.
