APS : Saturday, 19 May 2018
ISTANBUL (Turkey)-Speaker of the Council of the Nation (Upper House) Abdelkader Bensalah, representative of President of the Republic Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held Friday in Istanbul on the situation in Palestine,
reiterated “Algeria’s steadfast position in favour of the Palestinian people and just cause.”
In a statement before the presidents and heads of governments of the Muslim countries attending the Summit, Bensalah said that “Algeria, under the leadership of the president of the Republic, reiterates support to the Palestinian people’s just cause in the current difficult circumstances.”
“Algeria reaffirms its support to the Palestinian people’s struggle to counter the arbitrary measures taken against them and the repression exerted by the Zionist occupier in the Holy town of Al-Quds, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” stressed Bensalah.
In this connection, the Upper House speaker said that “Algeria calls to pursue international efforts to support the Palestinian people’s resistance.”
“The OIC must double efforts to defend the Palestinians, address divisions among Muslims and resolve conflicts. Arab countries should also use all political, diplomatic and legal means at the national and international levels to cease the Israeli occupation and its policy of Judaization of the Muslim and Christian holy places in Al-Quds,” affirmed Bensalah.
“In collaboration with the international community, the OIC must step up efforts to defend the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of a State through conducive political and legal environment leading to a common and credible approach that ends the conflict and occupation, in accordance with the provisions of international law and UN decisions,” stated Bensalah.
“In the face of this war crime coinciding with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Nakba and the peaceful demonstrations organized by the Palestinians, refusing the violation of their legitimate rights, the international community, notably the Security Council, is set to assume full responsibility for ensuring protection and justice for the Palestinian people, in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
The speaker of the Council of the Nation reiterated “President Bouteflika’s determination to contribute to making this summit successful,” and expressed the hope that the meeting will culminate in “positive and bold results ensuring the protection of the Palestinian people and support to their confiscated rights.”
Bensalah conveyed the greetings of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Turkish people and government.
