Foreign Affairs reiterates importance of Palestinian issue to Mauritania

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mauritanians abroad, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, affirmed that the Palestinian issue occupies an important and central position in the policies of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which aim to find a just, equitable, and sustainable solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international resolutions affirming the right of the Palestinian people to live on their land in an independent state, with Jerusalem as its capital.

In his speech at the 48th Session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Islamabad under the theme: ‘’Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice, and Development’’, the minister added that the Israeli practices aimed at Judaizing the holy Quds, obliterating its Arab and Islamic identity, continuing to build settlements, and confiscating Palestinian lands, represent a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.

Here is the integral text of the speech:

“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, may the blessings and peace of Allah be on upon the most honorable of the prophets and messengers,

Mr. Minister and dear brother Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chairman of the current session of the OIC’s council of foreign minister,

Your Highnesses and Excellencies,

Your Excellency Mr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
Peace be upon you all,

Allow me first to congratulate Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on presiding over the current session of the organization at the ministerial level, wishing him every success.

I would also like to thank my brother Mr. Hassoumi Massaoudou, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Niger, for the valuable efforts made by Niger in the last session.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for its tremendous and continuous efforts in serving the causes of the Islamic Ummah.

Your Highnesses and Excellencies,

I seize this opportunity to express to you that the Palestinian issue occupies an important position in the policies of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which aim to find a just, equitable, and sustainable solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant international resolutions affirming the right of the Palestinian people to live on their land in an independent state, with Quds as its capital.

Our country reiterates that the Israeli practices aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem, obliterating its Arab and Islamic identity, continuing to build settlements, and confiscating Palestinian lands, represent a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to international peace and security.

Brothers and sisters,

The government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania still clings to its position aimed at finding peaceful political settlements in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, and rejecting all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism in all its manifestations.

We categorically reject any foreign interference in the affairs of the OIC countries. In this context, we support all actions and measures taken by all Islamic countries to serve their national interests.

Before I conclude, I would like to thank again the general secretariat of the organization and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the good organization of this session, wishing it success in coming up with decisions that serve the Islamic Ummah.

Thank you very much”.