H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed leads UAE delegation to 42nd session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, headed a UAE delegation to Kuwait to participate in the 42nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was launched.

In his opening speech of the two-day ministerial meeting, held under the theme, "Joint Vision in Promoting Tolerance and Rejecting Terrorism," His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, reiterated his country's position in condemning the terrorist attack on a mosque in Saudi Arabia, which claimed tens of victims, stressing Kuwait's support to all actions Saudi has taken to confront terrorism and maintain its security.

He also expressed his deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia for what it has achieved during its presidency of the last OIC session, and for its efforts in contributing towards strengthening Islamic action.

The Kuwaiti Emir added, "We are required to intensify our efforts with the world to address the phenomenon of terrorism practiced by terrorist organisations, that has threatened the security of our countries and our stability in order to achieve the aspirations of our peoples."

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, met a number of Arab and Foreign Ministers on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In separate meetings, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah met with Abdulsalam Hadliye Omar, Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs; Salahuddin Rabbani, Afghani Foreign Minister; Robert Dussey, Togolese Foreign Minister; Erlan Abdyldayev, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan; Rashid Meredov, Foreign Affairs Minister of Turkmenistan; Abdoulaye Diop, Foreign Minister of Mali; Moussa B. Nebie, Minister of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Burkina Faso; Vatma Vall Mint Soueina, Mauritanian Foreign Minister; and Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives.

During the meetings, issues of common interest were discussed, besides ways of enhancing cooperation and developing bilateral relations in order to achieve common interests with these respective countries.

The ministers also discussed the most prominent topics on the agenda of the conference and issues related to supporting and strengthening the role of the OIC at the regional and international levels.

During the 42nd session, ministers are expected to discuss political, economic, social, cultural and technological issues as well as conflicts in the Islamic world.

In a special session to be held on the sidelines of the conference, ministers will also discuss the development of an effective strategy to combat terrorism, violent extremism, and Islamophobia.

The special session aims to strengthen the OIC's position and its procedures, which are aimed at putting an end to terrorism, extremism, hate speech, and Islamophobia through the adoption of special OIC initiatives.

The ministerial meeting will also discuss sensitive and important developments in the region, especially the situation in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya and the worrying developments in respect to the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.