KUWAIT: Gambian President Adama Barrow on Saturday received the Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s 15th session, currently held in the Gambian capital Banjul.

The Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the minister conveyed greetings from His Highness the Amir, the Kuwaiti Government and people, and His Highness the Amir’s success wishes for the OIC summit, due May 4-5, for the sake of bolstering cooperation and solidarity among Muslim nations, as well as his good wishes for Gambia and its friendly people so they may witness lasting prosperity and progress.

For his part, the Gambian President expressed gratitude and appreciation for the State of Kuwait, its leadership, government, and people, for their abundant contributions and goodwill initiatives, their responses to international events, their pioneering role in boosting stability, and their continuous support for diplomatic efforts to settle strife in the region with peaceful means and attain security and stability throughout the globe.

The ministry statement added that the two sides, during the meeting, reviewed close bilateral relations, means of boosting these bonds in various spheres, and discussed issues of common concern that serve mutual interests. The talks touched on current developments in the regional and international arenas, namely the tragic events in the Gaza Strip and proposed solutions to resolve the humanitarian crises, in addition to topics on the agenda of the OIC Summit.

Earlier, Gambian President Adama Barrow received Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hussein Brahim Taha on the eve of the 15th Islamic Summit Conference. They reviewed the final preparations for the OIC Leaders’ Summit, due in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, on May 4–5, according to a statement from the secretariat of the organization. The Summit, themed “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development,” will also address key regional and international issues of importance to the OIC Member States.

The OIC Secretary-General congratulated Gambia on the excellent preparations and facilities put in place for the summit, commending the active role of Gambia within the organization as it assumes the presidency of the 15th Islamic Summit. On his part, President Barrow reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the organization’s agenda and fostering greater unity and solidarity among its member states during and after his tenure. The meeting also reviewed ways for strengthening cooperation between Gambia and the OIC, the statement added.

Recognition of Palestine

In another development, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s decision to recognize Palestine as a critical step consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions. In a press statement, the OIC said that it would also contribute to enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights, including their right to return, self-determination, and an independent state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.

The OIC renewed its call on all countries around the world that have not yet recognized Palestine to announce their recognition as soon as possible in support of international efforts aimed at ending the occupation. It stressed that this would achieve peace and stability in the region based on the vision of the two-state solution and relevant international legitimacy resolutions. — KUNA