The inaugural Strategic Dialogue between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United States of America (US) was launched on 23 May 2022 in Washington, DC. The schedule of meetings held between the two sides over two days includes many issues and topics of common interest.
On the first day, issues related to the situation in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the fight against terrorism and extremism, were discussed. In his opening speech, the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, stressed that the first round of strategic dialogue with the US comes at a time when the world is facing enormous challenges that require strengthening dialogue, cooperation and solidarity in order to maintain peace, security and understanding and promote development. The Secretary-General noted that the OIC encourages its Member States to engage in dialogue, defuse tensions and conflicts, and resolve them by peaceful means. The OIC calls for promoting the values of moderation and tolerance and encouraging dialogue among civilizations.
The Secretary-General stressed that the Palestinian issue remains the central issue of the OIC as it defends the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and works for reaching a two-state solution, stressing at the same time that the OIC is committed to restoring peace, security and stability in Afghanistan, and the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries.—PR
