Statement delivered by
Mr. Reza Najafi
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
of the Islamic Republic of Iran
before the Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
New York – 21 September 2023
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Mr. Chairman,
Dear colleagues,
Secretary-General,
Dear brothers and sisters,
At the outset, I would like to thank Mauritania for organizing this meeting. I would also like to join my voice to the previous speakers expressing solidarity with the people of Libya and Morocco in the face of recent natural disasters.
I am glad to emphasize the high priority attached to the strengthening of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Islamic countries, especially Iran’s neighbors, in the foreign policy of my country.
The world is transiting toward a new international order. We believe that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation should play its role in the architecture of the new arrangements in economic, political, cultural and security cooperation among its Member States. Unity and solidarity are requisites for securing a promising future for the Islamic ummah within the emerging new order. We welcome the positive development in the West Asia region including the improvement and elevation of relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran with its neighbors and Islamic countries, and we extend our hands to brotherly and friendly countries for further boosting of political, economic and cultural relations.
Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its full readiness for strengthening solidarity with other Islamic countries, especially within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In this regard, we consider the recent rapprochement between Arab countries and the Arab Republic of Syria as a positive step in the right way and believe that the time is ripe for Islamic countries to welcome the return of Damascus to the OIC.
Mr. Chairman,
I would like to emphasize that the issue of desecrating the holy Quran should remain a prioritized topic on the agenda of the Organization and this meeting because. In this regard, we support the holding of the 18th extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Ministers’ Council of the OIC and its adopted resolution.
We believe, in addition, to emphasizing that these countries should terminate such irrational and violent behaviors against Muslims and the heavenly book of Quran, we should highly recommend that Western Countries criminalize such behaviors. We also highlight the important role of the OIC in countering Islamophobia and extremism.
Dear colleagues,
As one of the founding members of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been a supporter of all efforts by the Islamic ummah in dealing with challenges faced by the ummah, especially Islamophobia and the issue of Palestine. While inviting the Member States to support the full membership right of Palestine in the United Nations, the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that any attempt to normalize relations with the fake and occupying Zionist regime will definitely compromise the security and development of the Islamic ummah.
The occupied Palestine is the homeland of the Palestinian people and will forever belong to them as its sole main residents; therefore, the world should recognize the right to stand and resist against the occupying force. We also identify the necessity for a democratic and political measure which allows the Palestinian people to actualize their inalienable right to self-determination through holding a national referendum, where all Palestinian people, including Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Jews both inside occupied territories and abroad can participate in the referendum.
I thank you.