OIC Secretary General receives a message from EU Chief

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, received here today a reply message from High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission for External and Security Affairs, Baroness Catherine Ashton, saying that the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation share the same goals of finding an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations, leading to two states living side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition.A press statement issued by the Organization said that the EU High Representative expressed concern about the lack of progress in the peace process, and confirmed her personal involvement to strongly pursue efforts to revive direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, indicating that the European Union's position views settlements, including those in east Al-Quds (Jerusalem), the separation barrier, which are built on the occupied lands and the demolition of homes and evictions as illegal under the international law.Ashton stressed that these actions run contrary to the current EU and (Mideast) Quartet efforts to bring about the resumption of peace negotiations.