The meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) preparatory to the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference was held in Banjul, The Gambia, on May 2, 2024.
In his speech at the opening session, Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, commended the efforts made by The Gambia to ensure the successful organization of the 15th Islamic Summit in Banjul. He recalled the contributions, efforts, and initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the 14th Summit, especially in support of the Palestinian Cause.
Mr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, delivered a speech, in his capacity as Chair of the CFM preparatory meeting, in which he welcomed the delegations of the participating countries, and emphasized the role of the OIC in addressing the various challenges facing Member States.
Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, OIC Secretary-General, expressed, in his speech, his sincere congratulations to The Gambia on taking over the Chair of the Summit. He thanked the Gambian government and people for the good preparation to host the Summit, affirming the General Secretariat’s full readiness to cooperate and coordinate with the Gambian government for the success of the Summit.
The Secretary-General also expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the leading role it has played and the valuable efforts it has exerted during its chairmanship of the 14th Islamic Summit. He expressed his deep gratitude for the Kingdom’s generous support to the OIC and its continuous interest in all its activities, under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The Secretary-General extended his thanks to H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, for his support as well as his cooperation and coordination with the OIC in various issues of interest to the OIC General Secretariat and joint Islamic action.
The Secretary-General indicated that the challenges facing the OIC require stepping up efforts, cooperation and solidarity, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue, the central and unifying Cause of the joint Islamic action system. He highlighted the serious developments facing the Palestinian Cause, especially the ongoing aggression on Gaza, the escalating crimes of deliberate killing, colonial settlement, Judaization of the city of Al-Quds, and violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also reviewed the key issues on the OIC agenda and the OIC’s response to them.
The CFM meeting discusses the documents of the 15th Islamic Summit and the SOM report. It will then submit a report to the Summit Conference which will issue a Final Communiqué setting out the OIC’s positions regarding the issues on its agenda, a Resolution on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Banjul Declaration.