Pak to send delegation to OIC emergency ministerial meeting

Islamabad, Feb 20 (UNI) Pakistan will send a high-level delegation to the emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), slated for February 22 in Jeddah.

''State Minister for Foreign Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar will represent Pakistan at the meeting convened to discuss the recent Israeli violations against the al-Aqsa Mosque,'' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said here today.

The meeting will take place two days ahead of the meeting of seven Islamic countries, being hosted by Pakistan to discuss situation in the Weat Asian region.

''Pakistan's participation at the Jeddah moot is a mark of its abiding commitment to the Islamic causes,'' Ms Aslam said, adding the minister would take this opportunity to express Pakistan's deep concern and anguish over Israeli violations against the al-Aqsa mosque in the wake of excavation activities there.

''He will also call upon Israel to desist from these illegal actions which have not only hurt the emotions of the Muslims but also bear the potential to threaten peace and security in the region.

The issue will also figure prominently at the meeting of foreign ministers from seven Islamic countries on February 25.

Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Iran will discuss new initiatives for resolving the West Asian crisis, particularly the Palestinian issue.

The decision to convene the meeting was taken after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri's telephonic conversations with Secretary General OIC, Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and his counterparts from the seven countries.

The Foreign Ministers will also discuss ideas and prepare for a summit meeting of their leaders to be convened in Makkah-al-Mukarrammach, Ms Aslam added.

The summit meeting would discuss a new initiative to address the grave situation in the West Asia, in particular the Palestine issue and for harmony in the Islamic world.

UNI