OIC Secretary General Yousef Al-Othaimeen addressing the international forum on Al-Quds Waqfs, Istanbul, Turkey.

Jeddah (IINA) : Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen stressed the importance of stepping up economic support for the Palestinian people as one of the engines of their steadfastness in the face of Israeli occupation and the restrictions it imposes on their livelihood.

This came in his address to the international forum on Jerusalem Endowments held in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Monday under the theme of “Role of Endowments in Economic Development in and around the city of Al-Quds Al-Sharif”.

Dr. Al-Othaimeen said that the Palestinian cause has been the first and major cause on the OIC’s agenda. He reaffirmed the Organization’s position in support of the Palestinian people in their struggle to restore their legitimate rights, chiefly freedom and establishment of their sovereign and independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

The secretary general added that the OIC welcomes initiatives in support of Jerusalem, in constant coordination with the State of Palestine, and within the framework of the relevant resolutions and initiatives adopted by different sessions of the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM). He said the OIC will continue to cooperate with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and member states in order to contribute to supporting the Palestinian people and their steadfastness as well as building the institutions of their independent state, while fostering socio-economic development.