PM Abbasi to depart for Turkey to attend OIC summit on Jerusalem
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 12, 2017
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will depart today for Turkey to represent Pakistan at a summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jerusalem being held in Istanbul on Wednesday.
The summit will discuss the recent US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and shift its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The OIC leaders will also explore ways to deal with the situation.
The premier will convey the sentiments of the people and government of Pakistan and their unequivocal support to the people of Palestine.
He will stress upon the OIC for a united stance on the issue of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and call upon the US Administration to review its decision.
The Summit will be preceded by the Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, which will be attended by Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
The summit has been called by the Turkish President in his capacity as the Chair of OIC. Most OIC member states are expected to attend the summit.
Earlier on Saturday, Arab foreign ministers urged the United States to abandon its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying the move would increase violence throughout the region.
The announcement by President Donald Trump on Wednesday was a “dangerous violation of international law”, had no legal impact and was “void”, the Arab League said in a statement after a session attended by all its members in Cairo.
Trump’s endorsement of Israel’s claim to all of Jerusalem as its capital would reverse long-standing U.S. policy that the city’s status must be decided in negotiations with the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.