Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and the African Union Commission have signed a document aimed to intensify joint efforts and enhance cooperation among the three organizations in supporting the Palestinian cause.

The signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh on Monday.

The mechanism will be implemented through the general secretariats of the organizations, and those concerned will meet periodically to follow up on the special decisions of each organization, to unify and coordinate positions in international forums, in a way giving strength to the position of the three parties.

There will be joint coordination meetings for the three organizations soon, and more details will then be determined and agreed upon. Prince Faisal bin Farhan praised this cooperation, indicating that its importance lies in the fact that these three organizations, with their large number of member states, will now speak with one voice in international forums, instead of coordination and bilateral talks between their countries as was the case before.

For his part, Aboul Gheit said that the Arab-African cooperation and Arab-Islamic cooperation are already present and established. "But this is the first time a cooperation agreement has been signed that brings these organizations together in this regard."

Addressing the press conference following the summit, Aboul Gheit said that the tripartite agreement will expand cooperation between these organizations. “Senior officials of the three organizations will meet to discuss how to launch and implement the idea, the mechanism for coordination and unification of visions, and launching the strategy.”