OIC, NAM must promote peace, stability: Iran’s Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) must fulfill their responsibility to promote regional peace and stability.

“These two important organizations must properly carry out their main duty at the current sensitive and historical juncture in order to be able to be influential in the ongoing [regional] developments in practice,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Indonesia's Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla on the sidelines of the 17th NAM summit on Margarita Island, Venezuela, on Sunday.

He stressed the importance of reinforcing unity among Muslim states and said, “Arrogant powers seek to create tension and conflict in different parts of the Muslim world. So, it is necessary to exercise vigilance in the face of such moves and counter the ideology of violence and extremism in Muslim societies.”

The Iranian president described the ongoing situation in the region as concerning, saying that Iran and Indonesia, as two major Muslim countries, have a heavy responsibility to restore peace and stability to the Muslim world and to prevent the killing of even one Muslim.

Rouhani further said that Tehran and Jakarta have very close stances on political and regional issues, urging both sides to improve cooperation, particularly in the economic and banking sectors, to serve their mutual interests.

“Tehran has no limitations in cooperation with Jakarta,” the Iranian president added.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the summit on Saturday, the Iranian president called for further cooperation among the NAM member states, saying the bloc plays an “undeniable” role in resolving the crises across the world.

Iran, Indonesia must boost regional peace: Jusuf Kalla

Jusuf Kalla, for his part, said Iran and Indonesia, as two important Muslim countries, have always made efforts to promote peace across the Muslim world but must take more steps in this regard.

The Indonesian vice president added that the two countries can boost constructive cooperation in the Muslim world and help thwart arrogant powers’ efforts to sow discord among different Muslim countries.

The NAM meeting brought together heads of state and delegates from all the 120 member countries to discuss key regional and international issues. Iran handed over the rotating presidency of the bloc to Venezuela during the summit.

NAM, an international organization with 120 member states and 21 observer countries, represents nearly two-thirds of the UN members. It is regarded as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

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