Deputy Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman with Mohammed bin Ahmed Tayeb, left, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the OIC, during a reception in Jeddah on Thursday. (SPA)

Deputy Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman has called for greater efforts to strengthen Saudi role in the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Prince Salman made this comment while hosting Mohammed bin Ahmed Tayeb, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the OIC and newly appointed Saudi ambassadors to Denmark, Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Oqail, and Venezuela, Jamal bin Ibrahim Nasif.

Prince Salman also urged the ambassadors to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s relations with other countries and extend all possible services to Saudi citizens living in countries they work.

Speaking with Arab News, Tayeb expressed his delight over Prince Salman’s directives. “Prince Salman advised us to uphold Saudi Arabia’s special position in the world as the cradle of Islam.”

Tayeb said the appointment of a permanent representative in addition to the Saudi secretary-general reflects the government’s push for the OIC, the second largest organization in the world after the UN.

“The OIC is the voice of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and it works for realizing their hopes and aspirations,” the ambassador said.

He was all praise for Secretary-General Iyad Madani being an experienced statesman and administrator. Madani has worked as the Kingdom’s minister of Haj and minister of culture and information. “He is a man of vision and I am sure he would take the OIC to new heights of progress,” Tayeb said.

He emphasized the organization’s role in taking up issues such as Palestine, Syria, Kashmir, Myanmar Muslims and the Central African Republic. “The OIC also works for strengthening the unity and solidarity of Muslim countries,” he added.

Tayeb disclosed that the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers would hold a meeting in Jeddah on June 18-19 to discuss major issues like Palestine, Syria and CAR situation.

“The ministers are meeting in the Kingdom after 25 years as they last met in Riyadh in 1989,” he pointed out.

A preparatory meeting for the council was held at the OIC headquarters to prepare draft resolutions on various issues, including Palestine, Jerusalem, the Arab-Israeli conflict, CAR situation, Syria and Kashmir, as well as terrorism, nuclear disarmament and cooperation between the OIC and other regional and international organizations.