Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has been elected secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Mauritanian diplomat and former foreign minister took the oath of office, succeeding Hissein Brahim Taha, in the presence of foreign ministers from OIC member states.
Earlier, OIC member states elected him as the new secretary general of the Islamic body during the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah on Thursday.
In his address, the newly elected secretary general said his election was the greatest honour of his career and the highest distinction he had received after more than three decades of international, regional and national service.
He added that his pride in receiving the trust was unparalleled, as was his determination to live up to the expectations of the organization’s member states and prove through actions, not just words, that his selection as secretary general was justified.
For her part, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for inviting the meeting and for its steadfast support of the Palestinian cause.
She pointed to attacks by Israel, the occupying power, on countries in the region and said Israel had become emboldened to act against them because it had enjoyed impunity for decades.
The minister called on member states to take practical, political and legal measures to hold accountable those responsible for settler crimes and those who support and finance them.
She stressed that incursions, violations and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a direct threat to peace and stability in the region.