Baku Declaration Praises Qatar's Mediation Role in US-Iran Understanding

The Baku Declaration, issued at the conclusion of the 20th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC), has welcomed a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran aimed at addressing outstanding issues between the two countries, and praised the mediation efforts of the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that helped facilitate the agreement.

The declaration, adopted in Azerbaijan's capital, highlighted the importance of diplomatic engagement in reducing regional tensions and supporting stability, while acknowledging the role of international and regional actors in bridging differences.

It also reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause, expressing support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and rejecting all forms of forced displacement. The document reiterated that a two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, remains the only viable path to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.

The statement condemned the rise of Islamophobia, hate speech and discrimination based on religion, while rejecting terrorism and extremism in all its forms.

It further called for enhanced cooperation among member states in areas including human rights, digital transformation, responsible artificial intelligence, economic integration, trade facilitation, food security, energy, climate action, scientific research and development financing. The declaration said such cooperation is essential to advancing sustainable development and strengthening resilience across the Islamic world.

The document also stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral and multilateral parliamentary cooperation and developing unified positions in international parliamentary forums. It praised Azerbaijan's role in promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue, as well as its organization of the conference.

The conference, hosted over two days in Baku, brought together parliamentary delegations from OIC member states, including Qatar's Shura Council delegation led by HE the Speaker Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim. Participants discussed a wide range of political, economic and social issues, in addition to reviewing the work of the union's standing committees and administrative matters related to its functioning.

(QNA)