ISTANBUL, Feb 12 (A.A) - Abdelouahed Belkeziz, the Secretary General of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said on Tuesday that they were pleased with the courageous approach of France regarding the Middle East peace process.
Speaking at the opening session of the OIC-European Union (EU) Joint Forum, Belkeziz noted that they supported the new peace plan prepared by France for the Middle East peace process.
Belkeziz stated that the tragedy of the Palestinian people should be ended in the possible shortest time.
Palestinian people should be granted the right to self-determination and other legitimate rights that would end the occupation of its soils, and thus, the arrangement which would end Arab-Israeli disagreement should be made, Belkeziz said.
Belkeziz stated that organization of the forum in Istanbul was the right choice and said that this forum was an important opportunity to review the relations between the two organizations, build understanding and confidence and overcome differences in points of view.
Noting that Islam world and West Europe had many common values, Belkeziz pointed out that they aimed to create a perspective towards the future with the dialogue process launched in Istanbul.
Touching on September 11th process, Belkeziz said that it was a big injustice to keep a religion responsible for a terrorist attack.
Belkeziz pointed out that regarding the Islam civilization as equal to the September 11th terrorist attacks made the situation easier for those who staged the attacks.
Noting that economic and cultural issues should be debated at the forum, Belkeziz said that real civilizations could be established among the nations within the scope of the ''acceptance of respect, equality and the other.''