The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has welcomed the positive positions contained in the Council of the European Union' declaration on the Middle East Peace Process on December 13th, 2010. In a press release issued here yesterday, the Secretary General hailed in particular the clear European stance which considers the Israeli settlements, including in East Jerusalem, illegal under international law and obstacle to peace. The European refusal to recognizing any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, as reiterated by the declaration, was positively received. "The OIC also shares with the EU the view that peace in the Middle East should be comprehensive and based on the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative." Prof. Ihsanoglu emphasized that the OIC supports the EU call for the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings to allow the movement of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza. "The blockade is unjust and exacerbates the ordeal of the Palestinian civilians, and should be lifted."
