GA Approves Draft Resolution “Cooperation Between the UN and the OIC” – Press Release (Excerpts)

SEVENTY-THIRD SESSION, 52ND MEETING (AM)
GA/12105
13 DECEMBER 2018

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The General Assembly adopted the draft resolution titled “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation” (document A/73/L.45) by a recorded vote of 139 in favour to 0 against, with 6 abstentions (Armenia, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Israel, Syria).

By the text, the General Assembly urges the United Nations system to cooperate with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in areas of mutual interest.  It further invites the United Nations to consider providing increased technical and other forms of assistance to the OIC and its subsidiary organs.  It also affirms that both organizations share a common goal of promoting and facilitating the Middle East peace.

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Following the vote on that resolution, a number of delegates also disassociated from language in the text that they said unfairly singled out Israel, with that country’s representative stressing that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s programme of action contains biased and untrue information against Israel.

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The representative of Bangladesh introduced the draft resolution, “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation” (document A/73/L.45).  The resolution is consistent with the spirit of resolution 3369 (1975) when the United Nations invited the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to be an observer.  It reaffirms the shared objectives of the two organizations in conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, mediation and the promotion of a culture of peace, especially with Muslim communities around the world.  The draft resolution highlights the desire of the two organizations to work together on a number of shared concerns, including global security, self-determination, decolonization and combating terrorism.  In its operative paragraphs, the resolution reaffirms the organizations’ shared common goals of facilitating the Middle East process, combating religious intolerance and preventing violent extremism.  The protracted and emerging conflicts in the world make cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation strategically important.

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The representative of Canada disassociated her country from preliminary paragraph 4 of the resolution as it unfairly singles out Israel for criticism and politicizes the issue there, she said.

The representative of the United States disassociated his country from the preambular paragraph of the resolution regarding the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s program of action and its handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling it one-sided, political and unproductive.

The representative of Israel said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s program of action contains biased and untrue information against Israel and thus disassociated from preambular paragraph number 4.

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For information media. Not an official record.