OIC, Russia Discuss Int'l Challenges

Hissein Ibrahim Taha, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, (OIC) met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh on Tuesday, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The officials stressed the significance of coordination and dialogues to assist international peace efforts and global stability during their discussions, which focused on regional and worldwide concerns.

They emphasised their desire to strengthen friendly connections between Russia and the Islamic world.

They focused on bilateral collaboration and coordination on matters of mutual concern. Lavrov is on a visit of the region that began on Monday in Bahrain.

Earlier in May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed the United States’ commitment to expanding cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to advance shared priorities, including women’s empowerment, minority rights, religious freedom, climate change,  and health issues.

This came during his meeting with OIC Secretary-General, Dr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, on the sidelines of the opening session of the strategic dialogue between the US and OIC.

On his part, Blinken praised the OIC’s continued efforts on issues of global priority, including Afghanistan and countering violent extremism, according to the statement published on the US State Department’s website.

Moreover, he underlined the organization’s key role as a valuable partner in de-escalation of conflicts and advancing human rights.

Notably, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second-largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

In 1970 the first-ever meeting of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s Secretary-General. Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen is the 11th Secretary-General who assumed office in November 2016.