PUIC to form special c`ttee on Palestine

The 7th conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (PUIC) plans to form a special committee to handle the Palestinian issue.

The plan was contained in a draft resolution to be adopted at the end of the eight-day conference here on January 31.

The committee would be made up of 12 countries, namely Palestine, Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Senegal, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Morocco. 

The committee previously consisted of 11 members. The number increased to 12 after the PUIC special commission at its next session endorsed Morocco`s bid for the committee`s membership to join the other 11 countries in handling the Palestinian issue. 

Under the draft resolution, the special committee for Palestine would perform its duties in one year`s time. The Turkish National Assembly had expressed readiness to host the first meeting of the 12-member committee.

According to the committee`s work agenda, the PUIC special commission in the draft resolution gave a mandate to the secretary general to set the date of the committee`s first meeting.

In the draft resolution, the parliaments of OIC member states were also strongly opposed to Israel`s plan to declare Al-Quds Al Syarif city as its capital. They described the move as Israel`s direct aggression against the Palestinian people and their human rights.

In addition, PUIC also lauded the regional and international community`s support for Palestine. 

The conference was participated in by 37 countries. They are Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco.

In addition, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.

Source: ANTARA