Islam Times - Palestine workgroup to be formed in New York: Iran FM

Islam Times - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has announced the formation of a workgroup in New York to address issues related to Palestine.

“This workgroup will study the issue of Palestine in five areas in a more serious manner,” Salehi told reporters after the meeting of Palestine Committee wrapped up on the sidelines of the foreign ministerial meeting of the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran.

The Iranian diplomat noted that creating unity among the Palestinian groups, best ways of using media, and empowering the Palestinian people are among the main subjects to be considered by the workgroup.

He also stated that the workgroup should study ways of banning Israeli products because a number of NAM members still have relations with Israel.

“Heavy pressures should be put on the Zionist regime [of Israel] … and practical suggestions should be offered [in this regard],” Salehi noted.

More than 100 countries are partaking in the NAM meeting which kicked off at the expert level in Tehran on Sunday.

During the opening ceremony of the NAM expert-level meeting, Iran assumed the rotating presidency of the movement for three years. Egypt's Ambassador to the United Nations Mootaz Khalil formally handed over the presidency to Iran.

The two-day foreign ministerial meeting of the NAM summit has begun and is currently underway in the Iranian capital.

The meeting of the heads of states will open on Thursday with an inaugural speech by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.