Jeddah (IINA) : Governor of Jerusalem and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Adnan al-Husseini expressed his appreciation of Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani for taking the steps to open an OIC Office in Palestine in implementation of resolution 42/40, adopted by the 42nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held in Kuwait on 27-28 May 2015.

Al-Husseini stated that opening the Office was a major turning point for what the OIC will do in future with respect to the Palestinian issue in general, and Jerusalem in particular.

He made the remarks during his visit to the Ramallah-based OIC Representative Office in Palestine on Saturday, where he met with Attorney Ahmad Ruwaidhi, the office director and OIC representative in Palestine.

Al-Husseini said that he looked forward to an enhanced role of the OIC in Jerusalem and to follow up various issues, particularly those related to the city. He added that it was important to act at the international level through the OIC in order to protect the holy sites and provide urgent protection to the Palestinians in Jerusalem as they face serious violations.

The governor discussed with the staff of the OIC Office the possibility of strengthening the role of the OIC institutions with a view to coordinating and working with the ministry and the governorate and ensuring that the people and institutions of Jerusalem feel practical change in the OIC role, especially after the opening of its office in Palestine.

For his part, Ruwaidhi briefed the governor on the functions of the OIC Representative Office in the fields of politics, media and development, in addition to the relationship with the official Palestinian agencies, civil society institutions and private sector.

Ruwaidhi said that the Office would work with all Palestinian institutions to promote the role of Islamic countries in supporting the Palestinian national project as well as the economic and social structure. He added that the work of the Office would focus on the City of Jerusalem and protecting its institutions, residents and holy sites.

Both sides agreed to hold periodic meetings to follow up on Israeli violations in Jerusalem and on implementation of OIC resolution related to the development of the city. The Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs will provide the OIC, through its Ramallah Office, with all reports as well as urgent and necessary projects to be carried out.