7 Mar, 23:40

Organization of Islamic Cooperation decides to resume Syria’s membership

Turkey, in his words, "is doing its best to ensure that Syria regains its legitimate place in regional international formats"

ANKARA, March 8. /TASS/. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to reinstate Syria as its member after a 13-year suspension, a source in the Turkish foreign ministry told TASS.

"The issue of resuming Syria’s OIC membership was put on the agenda of the emergency meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Jeddah on March 7, 2025 at Turkey’s initiative. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan took part in the meeting. The meeting adopted a draft resolution, in the elaboration of which Turkey also took part, and Syria’s membership in the OIC was reinstated after 13 years of suspension. After this resolution was passed, Foreign Minister in Syria’s new administration Asaad Hassan al-Shibani was invited to the meeting and took a seat at the table, representing Syria," the source said.

He recalled that the top OIC diplomats had discussed the situation in Syria at their extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on June 24, 2012 and recommended that the country’s membership be suspended until regime of the former President Bashar Assad stayed in place. "The fourth extraordinary OIC summit in Mecca on August 14 and 14, 2012 made a decision to suspend Syria’s OIC membership," the source added.

Turkey, in his words, "is doing its best to ensure that Syria regains its legitimate place in regional international formats.".

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