HM the King addresses OIC Summit, calls for anti-terror action

Istanbul, Apr. 15 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has called for more coordination and consultation among Islamic countries in order to address the serious internal and external challenges currently faced by the Islamic Nation, and represent a major threat to their security, stability and development. HM King Hamad voiced the stances in the keynote speech delivered on his behalf by Deputy Premier HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa at the 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Turkey. HM the King expressed thanks and appreciation to the Turkish President, government and people for the gracious welcome, hospitality and good preparation for the summit, affirming full confidence in President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan’s leadership of OIC in the coming period and his ability to enhance joint Islamic action and develop OIC work for the best interests of Islamic countries. HM King Hamad also extended thanks and appreciation to the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for his landmark achievements as President of the previous OIC session, citing his tremendous efforts to consolidate joint Islamic action. HM the King paid similar tribute to OIC Secretary-General Dr. Iyad bin Amin Madani and all OIC affiliates for their commendable efforts to enable OIC to assume its role in serving just Islamic issues. HM King Hamad asserted that the Islamic Nation is currently facing serious internal and external challenges that require stepping up joint Islamic coordination, consultation and cooperation in order to thwart threats to the security and stability of Islamic countries and peoples, strengthen Islamic unity and solidarity and achieve justice and peace recommended by the Islamic Sharia. Despite the seriousness of the challenges and threats, we are capable of defending our common interests and fending off external ambitions and terrorism thanks to our religious unity, common destiny and the honourable history of the Islamic Nation, which is based on rationalism and wisdom," HM the King said. HM King Hamad affirmed that the Islamic Nation and the world are facing the threat of terrorism which, he said, is targeting lives and property across the world. "Terrorism has no religion or country, and it has nothing to do with Islam. Our Islamic Religion and its principles and precepts call for co-existence, fraternity and peace," HM the King explained, adding that "It is not logical that terror acts are committed in the name of Islam, a religion that calls for good and love within a framework of dialogue and wisdom." "The Kingdom of Bahrain, which has suffered –and still suffers- from terror and vandalism acts that are backed by external sides, including the Islamic Republic of Iran and the so-called Hizbollah in Lebabon, renews its strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, confirms its commitment to combating this scourge that poses a threat to the security of the entire world and calls upon everyone to work collectively to remove its causes develop the cooperation mechanisms among all countries to eradicate it, uproot it and dry up its sources. The Kingdom also calls on the International Community, as well as the relevant local and international bodies, to declare war on terrorism and initiate the necessary procedures to protect the interests of nations, and the life, safety and integrity of peoples," HM the King said. Speaking about the Middle East crisis, HM King Hamad affirmed that the peace process has become more sophisticated and rigid amid the persistence of Israel’s anti-peace practices, settlement polices, confiscation of lands, continued blockade of the Gaza Strip and repeated aggressions on the Palestinian people and the Islamic holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque. "We emphasise firm rejection of this injustice, and call upon the International Community, especially the UN Security Council, to deter the Israeli occupation authorities for their intransigence that has resulted in undermining the peace process, and become one of the most important reasons for the spread of violence, hatred and terrorism in our region," HM the King said. "Based on the belief in the need to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region through giving the Palestinian people their right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, we call for the need to resume the peace process based on the fundamentals of international resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative and the extraordinary Islamic Summit, held recently in Jakarta, the Republic of Indonesia," HM the King added. HM King Hamad also renewed the Kingdom’s support for the United Arab Emirates’ right to regain its Iran-occupied three islands through direct negotiations or by referring the issue to the International Court of Justice. This will achieve security and peace, re-build good neighbourliness relations based on the respect for countries’ sovereignty and independence, non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, extend bridges of confidence and open up new horizons of cooperation based on joint interests in the region, in line with the resolutions of the GCC, Arab and Islamic summits, HM the King explained. "Our national and humanitarian duty requires us to continue our efforts to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of our countries, and exert more effort and joint action in order to strengthen coordination and cooperation either among our countries or with the various countries of the world. This will enable brotherly Islamic peoples, especially in Yemen, Syria, Libya and others, build their political system freely and independently, without any form of guardianship or foreign interference or intervention. Interference would deepen the problems and crises without contributing to the development of the appropriate solutions that ensure the achievement of the aspirations of the peoples for stability, security and the right to build a bright and prosperous future the coming generations," HM the King said. HM King Hamad reiterated the kingdom’s firm and principled stance in support of Yemen through the participation in the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. " "It is a firm and principled stance stemming from our belief in the right of Yemen to live in security and stability. We hope that negotiations in brotherly Kuwait will lead to security and stability in Yemen within a framework of legitimacy and consensus among all parties," HM the King added. On Syria, HM the King stressed the importance of putting an end to foreign interference and military escalation in order to pave the way for international efforts to end the dangerous crisis and its humanitarian repercussion and help work out a political solution based on Geneva I. "Our goal in this summit is to achieve the Islamic solidarity to which Muslim peoples are looking forward within OIC objectives and principles," HM the King said. HM King Hamad expressed hope that the 13th OIC Summit would come up with unified Islamic stances on just Islamic issues through strengthening cooperation and coordination among Islamic countries for the common interests of Islamic peoples.