OIC summit voice support for Syria
Regional, Politics, 10/18/2003

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Friday condemned Israel's aggression on the Syrian lands and violation of the Lebanese airspace, describing such practices as flagrant violation and breach of the UN Charter and international law.

The OIC, in its final Statement at the end of a 2-day summit in Putrajaya, Malaysia called on the UN security Council to take necessary measures to deter Israel from practicing such "hostile, terrorist actions."

The Statement warned that such aggressions constitute dangerous escalation, a further deterioration in the already tense Middle East region and threat to the regional and international security and peace.

It also denounced the U.S Congress vote on the so-called Syria Accountability Act which calls for imposing sanctions on the country. The OIC voiced full solidarity with Syria and rejection of the Act.

On Iraq, the Statement called for the speedy transfer of power to the Iraqis, and giving Iraq full sovereignty and territorial integrity with the UN having a pivotal role in this process.

The Statement stressed that the Iraqi people have a right in determining their political future and natural resources along with a broad representative government.

On the Palestinian issue, the Statement called for the establishment of a Palestinian independent state, and condemned the so-called "security fence" being built by Israel in the West Bank. It urged for the elimination of the fence, the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Palestinian lands, termination of building settlements and threats against Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat.

The OIC also said Islamic countries are determined to confront all forms of terrorism on top of which is "state terrorism." They also voiced rejection of double-standard policy in tackling world issues or linking terrorism to any specific religion or culture, calling for a UN-sponsored international conference to differentiate between terrorism and peoples' legitimate right to defend themselves against occupiers or those seeking to impose hegemony.

The Statement said peoples have a right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful ends, and welcomed increased co-operation between Iran and the Atomic Energy International Agency.

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