On November 2, 2020, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova held talks with Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Youssef Al-Otaimin via videoconference.
This is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Emine Dzhaparova renewed Ukraine's request to acquire observer status in the organization, which will contribute to deepening cooperation with the states of the Islamic world. "We are interested in obtaining observer status in the OIC in the near future, which will contribute to closer coordination with the mentioned respected association in an institutional format and deepen relations with its member states at the bilateral level," the first deputy minister said.
She also updated Youssef Al-Otaimin in detail about the situation in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, drawing the interlocutor's attention to the ongoing repression and persecution by the occupation administration of residents of the peninsula who disagree with the occupation. It was noted that the greatest persecution, in particular on religious grounds, is experienced by Crimean Tatars.
In this context, Emine Dzhaparova drew attention to the initiative "Crimean platform", the key task of which is to consolidate further and coordinate the efforts of the policy of non-recognition and de-occupation of Crimea and also expressed gratitude to the OIC for paying attention to the problems of Crimean Muslim Tatars and their rights, which is reflected in the relevant final documents of summits and meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member states of the organization.
The parties expressed their intention to continue maintaining regular contacts at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the general secretariat of the OIC. Emine Dzhaparova invited the OIC Secretary-General to visit Ukraine.
Background: the organization of Islamic Cooperation was founded in 1969 (its headquarters are located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), uniting 57 Muslim states of the world, making it the second-largest organization after the UN.