Iranian president ready to cooperate with Morocco to defend Jerusalem

President Mohamed Khatami of Iran who is holding the rotating chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Conference "OIC" is ready to cooperate with King Hassan II to defend the holy city of Jerusalem.

The statement was made by Kadhem el-Khansari, adviser to the Iranian foreign minister, during the opening session of the international colloquy on "the Future of Arab Jerusalem," currently held in Casablanca.

The Iranian official underlined President Khatami's will to enhance consultation with King Hassan II, chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and with all the member countries of the Organization of Islamic conference, in order to uphold the Palestinian cause and defend Holy Al-Quds.

He also hailed the tireless action conducted by King Hassan II to thwart the attempts aimed at obliterating the Islamic identity of the city and pointed out that no fair and lasting peace can be established in the Middle East without the settlement of the problem of occupied Al-Quds.

The Judaization of the city, the displacing of its inhabitants and the construction of settlements are threatening security and peace in the region, the Iranian official said calling the international community to oppose such practices that are blatant evidence, he said, to the Zionist regime's determination to obliterate the city's historical authenticity.

The three-day international colloquy on "the Future of Arab Jerusalem" is sponsored by the Paris-based center for Euro-Arab studies, in cooperation with the Jeddah-based OIC, the European Commission, the Arab League and the World Islamic League. It is bringing together researchers from Arab, Islamic and European countries.