OIC WELCOMES BELGIUM PARLIAMENT’S RESOLUTION RECOGNISING PALESTINE

Jeddah, 19 Rabi’ul Akhir 1436/9 February 2015 (MINA) – The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, welcomed the decision by the Belgian parliament to recognize the State of Palestine.

He described it as an important move that would contribute to peace and stability in the region, even as it constitutes a support for the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people including the establishment of sovereignty of their independent state on the 1967 borders with Al-Quds Ash-Shareef as its capital.

The Secretary General expressed his hope that the Belgian government would take the initiative to recognize the State of Palestine in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly resolution of 29 February 2012, an OIC press release quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Wallonia, the predominantly French-speaking southern region of Belgium, 16 January 2015, called on its government to fully recognize Palestine as an independent state, said an official source.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Wallonia has called on its government to vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian independent state, making it the third regional parliament to call for such recognition, Wafa Palestinian News Agency reported.

A total of 61 parliamentarians of 94 voted in favor of the recognition, while 27 voted against it.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the vote considering it a message to all other regional European parliaments of the importance to end the Israeli occupation and achieve stability and security in the Middle East. (T/R05/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)