"I have the honour to deliver this explanation of position on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement.

The European Union and its Member States continue to support the Resolution on 'Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation' and encourage further cooperation between both organizations.

We further acknowledge that due to the current restrictions in place, there was not sufficient time to organize proper consultations and the facilitator opted for a technical roll-over.

This said, we need to express our disappointment that despite objection from several delegations, including from the EU, the reference to the OIC 2025 Programme of Action has been maintained in the draft before us.

The EU reiterates that language contained in the 2025 Programme of Action is without any endorsement of declarations, decisions and resolutions adopted by the OIC fora, which ought to be fully consistent with UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions and in full respect of international law and the UN Charter, including notably the principle contained in Article 2.7.  

In this regard, we wish to put on record that the provisions of the 'OIC 2025 Programme of Action' related to Cyprus are not consistent with existing Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions.

We therefore urge the OIC to refrain from adopting positions that would undermine international law and the UN Charter. The EU trusts that its position will be taken into account in the future so that it can continue to support this resolution.

Thank you.