Islamabad / Jeddah (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held its 22nd extraordinary session in Jeddah on Saturday, adopting two key resolutions. The first condemned Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” as an independent state, while the second addressed Tel Aviv’s continued aggression against the Palestinian people, including its plans for annexation and displacement from their land.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the session. Upon his arrival, he was received by OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha and Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the bloc, Ambassador Fawad Sheron.
Israel recently recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, stated that his state would join the Abraham Accords. Subsequently, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland, an act condemned by Somalia as an “unauthorised incursion.”
According to an OIC statement, Secretary General Taha highlighted that the extraordinary ministerial meeting was convened at a “very delicate and sensitive time” to discuss “serious developments affecting the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
Referring to Israel’s move, he described the recognition of Somaliland as “a dangerous precedent that constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security and stability.”
The Secretary General explained that the current meeting followed an extraordinary session of the executive committee with open membership at the level of permanent representatives, held at the OIC General Secretariat on January 1.
“It clearly reflects the extent of shared concern about these dangerous developments. It also reflects the collective awareness of member states of the need to adopt a unified, clear, and firm Islamic position that supports the Federal Republic of Somalia, its territorial integrity, and sovereignty, based on the principles of the OIC Charter, international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions,” he said.
Focus on Palestine
In his address, Secretary General Taha also discussed the situation in Palestine, stressing the need to compel Israel, the occupying power, to proceed with the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. He called for:
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A comprehensive and permanent cessation of Israeli aggression
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Complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip
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Prevention of further displacement of the Palestinian people
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Facilitation of the return of displaced persons to their homes
The Council’s meeting was preceded by a preparatory session at the level of senior officials.
Inauguration of New Pakistani Chancery in Jeddah
Earlier on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Dar inaugurated the new chancery building of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah, according to state-run APP.
The ceremony was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, Saudi dignitaries, Consul General Syed Mustafa Rabbani, prominent members of the Pakistani community, and officials of the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah.
The inauguration included hoisting the Pakistani flag, a tree plantation on the chancery lawn, ribbon-cutting, unveiling of the plaque, and prayers for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
