New York (GNP): Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, participated in a high-level ministerial working dinner focused on current developments and crises in the Middle East on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting was organized by the International Peace Institute (IPI) in cooperation with the Government of the State of Qatar and the European Union.
It brought together foreign ministers from several OIC member states, representatives of international and regional organizations, senior United Nations officials and diplomats.
The gathering provided a high-level setting for participants to exchange views on strategic developments affecting the Middle East and challenges facing the international peace and security system.
According to the OIC, the annual ministerial working dinner serves as a platform for dialogue on regional and international issues.
The format brings together senior political and diplomatic figures at the margins of the UN General Assembly, allowing participants to discuss developments in the region and exchange perspectives.
The participation of the OIC Secretary-General comes as the organization is taking part in the high-level activities of the 81st UN General Assembly.
The OIC had announced that Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was leading a high-level delegation from the organization’s General Secretariat to New York for the UN General Assembly session.
The delegation’s programme includes participation in high-level events at UN Headquarters as well as bilateral meetings with heads of delegations and senior international and UN officials.
The OIC delegation’s programme also includes the organization’s annual coordination meeting of foreign ministers from member states.
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In addition, the OIC said it would convene several ministerial contact groups and specialized committees dealing with regional and international issues, including Palestine, Muslim communities and minorities, Jammu and Kashmir, the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Afghanistan.
The organization is also scheduled to participate in ministerial-level meetings concerning the implementation of the two-state solution and support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
The Middle East working dinner therefore forms part of a wider diplomatic programme surrounding the UN General Assembly, where governments and international organizations are discussing conflicts, regional security, humanitarian concerns and international cooperation.
The International Peace Institute has held its annual Ministerial Working Dinner on the Middle East for many years during the UN General Assembly high-level week.
Previous editions have brought together foreign ministers, senior officials and representatives of international and regional organizations for discussions on Middle Eastern affairs.
For the OIC, participation in such forums provides an opportunity to engage directly with international partners and representatives of member states on developments affecting the wider Islamic world.
The OIC stated that its participation reflects the General Secretariat’s continued engagement with international partners and its involvement in regional and international issues and initiatives.
The organization said this engagement is intended to serve the interests of its member states and their populations.
The meeting also highlights the role of multilateral diplomacy in addressing complex regional crises.
With the Middle East facing interconnected political, security and humanitarian challenges, ministerial-level platforms provide opportunities for governments and international organizations to exchange information and discuss possible areas of cooperation.
The OIC’s presence at the gathering is part of its broader diplomatic engagement during the 81st UN General Assembly, where the organization is participating in discussions alongside its member states and international partners.
As the General Assembly’s high-level week continues, discussions involving the OIC and other regional and international actors are expected to remain focused on issues affecting peace, security, humanitarian conditions and international cooperation in the Middle East.
