The UAE parliamentary Division, led by Second Deputy of the FNC Speaker Abdulaziz Al Za'abi, participated in the e 12th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, PUIC, in Bamako last Friday.

The meetings were held under the patronage of Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, and were attended by 40 delegations that represented the parliaments of the organisation’s member states.

The FNC delegation included Mattar Al Shamsi, Khalifa Suhail Al Mazrouei, along with other members.

Al Zaabi stressed, during his speech, the necessity of adopting a shared Islamic strategy to fight terrorism and extremism. These would be implemented based on the values of tolerance, moderation and co-existence, instead of those of extremism and intolerance.

He also spoke about the UAE’s experience in fighting extremism on several fronts, which earned it a respect from nations throughout the world. Al Zaabi referred to the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the wider UAE community of over 200 nationalities.

Over 1 billion Muslims around the world share high expectations on the outcome of these meetings, in a bid to find ways to face the major challenges and build a bright future for the Islamic world, he said.

The Islamic world is currently witnessing many harsh realities, including the suffering caused by violent conflicts and the emergence of terrorist groups, citing the extremists who targeted the UAE humanitarian mission officials in Kandahar in Afghanistan, where several civilians were killed and others injured, he added.

According to the Second Deputy of the FNC Speaker, such terrorist attacks will not affect the determination of UAE in providing help and humanitarian assistance to both the Islamic world and to the wider world. He expressed his pride for the sacrifices made for humanity, justice and righteousness.

He also highlighted the positive developments in the Palestinian situation and the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2334 that demanded an immediate halt to building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, by Israel.

He further mentioned the ratification by UNESCO of a resolution in October 2016 that affirmed the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque as an Islamic holy site, as well as the closing declaration of the Paris Conference on Peace in the Middle East on 15th January, 2017.